The Uncharted film has reportedly recorded the fourth biggest opening weekend for a video game adaptation at the US box office.
Having debuted internationally a week earlier, Uncharted hit US theatres on February 18 and generated $44 million in its first three days to top the weekly sales chart.
According to Fandango managing editor Erik Davis, only three other films based on video game properties have enjoyed stronger openings at the US box office.
They were 2001’s Tomb Raider ($47m), 2019’s Detective Pikachu ($54m) and 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog ($58m).
The Uncharted movie, which had a $120 budget, launched in 15 markets on February 11 and made a solid start internationally. It has earned $139 million worldwide to date.
David Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, told Variety the film had enjoyed an “excellent” opening.
“Action adventures based on video games are big movies and this weekend’s figure is nearly double the average for the genre,” he said. “Budgets run high, so Uncharted needs to connect in every market. So far, it is doing that.”
The movie is the first feature film from PlayStation Productions, a studio formed by Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt its original game properties for film and television in partnership with Sony Pictures.
Its first TV series, HBO’s The Last of Us, is currently shooting and is expected to air in 2023.
Read more on videogameschronicle.com