WhileAvatar: The Way of Waterhas been breaking records at the box office worldwide, another long-awaited sequel has quietly been over-performing and delivering stellar holds week after week. Universal’s release of Dreamworks’Puss in Boots: The Last Wishpassed two major milestones at the box office yesterday — the movie crossed the $150 million mark domestically, and the $350 million mark worldwide, after just over a month in theaters.
Produced on a reported budget of $90 million — low for an animated movie tied to a globally-renowned franchise —Puss in Bootswas released around the same time asThe Way of Water, and incidentally, also came over a decade after its predecessor. For six weeks in a row, it trailedThe Way of Waterat the weekend box office, finishing at either the number two or three spots. The film slipped to number four for the first time this weekend, grossing nearly $8 million from around 3,400 theaters. And this is after it was made available to rent and purchase on PVOD.
Directed byJoel Crawford, the film has made $151 million domestically, and another $199 million from overseas territories, for a global tally of $350 million. WhilePuss in Bootsis still trailing the first film by a wide margin — the original made $555 million globally — it’s still a huge win for Universal, especially when you take into account the condensed budget. The originalPuss in Bootswas produced for a reported budget of $130 million, and was released in 2011.
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Dreamworks has witnessed solid success as it enters a new era, where it is producing movies at lower costs than it used to. Crawford’s ownThe Croods: A New Agegrossed $216 million globally at the height of the pandemic, against a reported budget of $65 million, while last year’sThe Bad Guysbecame a sleeper hit with $250 million worldwide against a reported budget of around $80 million.
StarringAntonio Banderasas the titular adventurer, thePuss in Bootsmovies serve as spinoffs to the hugely successful Shrek franchise.The Last Wishpicks up some years after the events of the first film, and finds Puss in Boots in the middle of anexistential crisis, having arrived at the last of his nine lives and being tailed by Death itself. And a part of the reason behind the second film’s success, despite the long wait, is the sustained interest in the franchise and genuinely enthusiastic reviews. Collider’s ownNate Richardwrote inhis review, “Nothing inPuss in Boots: The Last Wishfeels lazy, it more than justifies the long wait. It is not only one of the best animated films of the year, but it’s one of DreamWorks' best, and one that will strike a chord with moviegoers of all ages.”
The film’s biggest international markets are Mexico (nearly $20 million), France ($19 million), Germany ($14 million), Australia ($12.8 million), and Brazil ($12.2 million).Puss in Boots 2also features the voices ofSalma Hayek,Harvey Guillén,Florence Pugh,Olivia Colman,Ray Winstone,Samson Kayo,John Mulaney,Wagner Moura,Da’Vine Joy Randolph, andAnthony Mendez. You can watch our interview with Banderas here, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
