The Spanish-language animated movie tearing up the U.S. box office
LOS ANGELES — Pantelion, the Lionsgate-Televisa joint venture, looks to be on track for another solid hit with 3D animated Mexican pic “Un Gallo Con Muchos Huevos.” The Spanish-language animated feature received an A+ CinemaScore and is among the top 19 releases this weekend despite its limited play in only 395 locations.
“Un Gallo” posted the highest per-screen average of any pic in wide release, becoming the second-largest opening weekend release for Pantelion after its biggest hit “Instructions Not Included,” which posted a three-day opening weekend gross of $7.84 million on Labor Day weekend in 2013 before it blazed toward a record-busting cume of $44.4 million.
“Labor Day weekend has become our event weekend,” says Pantelion CEO Paul Presburger, who notes that “Cantinflas” and “Ladron que roba al Ladron” also opened then.
Written, directed and produced by Gabriel and Rodolfo Riva Palacio Alatriste, “Un Gallo” features the voices of Mexican crossover stars Bruno Bichir (“The Bridge,” along with his brother Demian, “Narcos”) and Maite Perroni who recently signed with Paradigm. Major Latino stars Omar Chaparro, Angelica Vale, Ninel Conde, Carlos Espejel and Facundo round up the voice talent.
On Sunday, toon was up 39% from Friday and grossed an estimated $1.21 million. Pantelion is reporting a three-day gross of $3.4 million ($8,608 per location) and a four-day estimate of $4.4 million ($11,140 per location). It has done particularly well in Mexican-dominant markets where a multiplatform campaign included tie-ins with restaurants.
In Mexico, it has grossed 100 million pesos ($6 million) in its first two weeks. “Un Gallo” is the third installment of a wildly successful franchise in Mexico. “We hope there will be a fourth,” says Presburger.