Global Box Office Report: ‘Man of Steel’ Earns $196.7 Million as Superman Flies Again

Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan‘s Man of Steel whipped up a No. 1 worldwide opening of $196.7 million after earning $71.6 million from its first 24 international markets, impressing even studio rivals.

Overseas, the Superman pic soared to enviable heights in Mexico, Southeast Asia and the U.K., home country of star Henry Cavill. The film’s early foreign performance is a notable success for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures as they go about resurrecting the marquee franchise.

Snyder directed the $225 million tentpole, with Nolan producing. Box office observers will track the film’s international run closely, since Superman has historically been a distinctly American hero (then again, Captain America: The First Avenger did more business overseas than domestically, or $192 million versus $176 million).

BOX OFFICE REPORT: ‘Man of Steel’ Nabs $125.1 Million for No. 1 June Opening of All Time 

Man of Steel‘s weekend take in North America was $113.1 million, the top opening for June. Combined with $12 million from special Walmart screenings Thursday night, the film’s domestic total through Sunday was $125.1 million.

As a way of comparison internationally, Man of Steel is pacing nearly 40 percent ahead of Nolan’s sequel The Dark Knight, which ultimately earned $470 million overseas. It opened to a $17.1 million in the U.K., one of the best showings for a superhero film and almost on par with Iron Man 3 earlier this summer.

Man of Steel debuted to $9.9 million in South Korea and $9.8 million in Mexico. The film makes a major push next weekend when opening in another 26 markets, including a raft of major European markets.

Universal’s Fast & Furious 6 came in No. 2 worldwide over Father’s Day weekend with international and domestic ticket sales of $29.4 and pushing the action’s pic cume to $636.8 million. The sixth installment is now the top grossing film in the series, besting the $628 million earned by Fast Five.

Will Smith sci-fi epic After Earth placed No. 3 worldwide, although it continues to underperform both domestically and overseas. Weekend earnings were $27.8 million, including $24 million internationally from 72 markets for a tepid foreign total of $91.1 million. The event pic’s worldwide cume through Sunday is $145.3 million.

Summit’s magician heist pic Now You See Me jumped the $100 million mark worldwide, grossing $25.9 million for a cume of $107.7 million. Domestically, the film grossed $10.3 million for a cume of $80 million. Overseas, it earned $15.6 million for a cume of $27.72 million.

STORY: Warner Bros.’ ‘Man of Steel’ Nabs $170 Million in Promotional Dollars 

Star Trek Into Darkness, enjoying strong legs, placed No. 5 globally with $22.7 million in ticket sales for a total $412.2 million. The Paramount and Skydance pic took in $17 million overseas from 58 markets to jump the $200 million market with a cume of  $201.7 million.

Warner Bros. and Legendary’s The Hangover Part III also crossed $200 million at the foreign box office, pushing its global total to $309.8 million.

Shawn Levy‘s Google comedy The Internship, starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, grossed $5.1 million as opened in its first 19 foreign markets after underwhelming in the U.S.