MANILA, Sept. 17, 2012 — “Resident Evil: Retribution” arrived with a vengeance in Philippine cinemas, opening with a spectacular P65-million gross for the Sept. 12-16 frame — the biggest debut ever for the wildly successful film franchise. This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
That figure represents a whopping 217% improvement of the first weekend take of the previous best grossing “Resident Evil” movie, 2010’s “Resident Evil: Afterlife” at P 30-million.
“Retribution’s” bow also became the third biggest opening of Columbia Pictures this year behind “Amazing Spider-Man” (P143.6 million) and “Men in Black 3” (P68.7 million).
In the U.S., “Resident Evil: Retribution” topped the domestic box office with $21.1 million, while earning another $50 million overseas from 50 territories for a worldwide total of $71.1 million. The previous film, Resident Evil: Afterlife, took in $26.7 million domestically and $39 million internationally its first weekend. IMAX theaters accounted for $6.1 million of “Retribution’s” total worldwide with $3 million coming from domestic locations and $3.1 million from overseas.
Back in the Philippines, the fifth “Resident Evil” rolled out on 215 screens including 70 Digital 3D screens and 3 IMAX Digital 3D screens. SM Mall of Asia took the lion’s share at P3.67-M, followed by SM North EDSA at P3.52-M and Trinoma at P2.52-M.
Also posting huge grosses are SM Megamall (P2.30-M), Greenbelt 3 (P1.73-M), SM Cebu (P1.70-M), Newport (P1.62-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.49-M), SM Southmall (P1.34-M) and Gaisano Davao (P1.25-M).
Completing the Top 20 cinemas are SM Fairview (P1.17-M), Gateway (P1.16-M), Power Plant (P1.12-M), Robinsons Ermita (P1.09-M), Market! Market! (P1.03-M), Eastwood (P1.00-M), Alabang Town Center (P 982,333), SM Dasmarinas (P 958,250), Robinsons Galleria (P 897,875) and SM San Lazaro (P 895,757).
In “Resident Evil: Retribution,” the Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex.
Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.
Now showing across the Philippines IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular cinemas, “Resident Evil: Retribution” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.
