Apple Original Films and Sony’s “Napoleon” gallop into China

Ridley Scott-directed action epic from Apple Original Films and Sony Pictures Napoleon has a theatrical release date of December 1st in China.

The film, starring Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, begins its global outing on Wednesday; Here in the United States, we take advantage of the five-day Thanksgiving holiday.

Sony is betting that the film will make most of its global money overseas, on par with the trajectory of historical epics, viz. 1917 58% of its worldwide box office total of $384.5 million came from overseas. Dunkirk It took 64% of its $527.8 million at the international box office.

However, there is no question about how volatile the Chinese market was during the post-pandemic BO, that is, for so long Oppenheimer earned a solid $61.6 million there from its $623.7 million foreign BO. 1917 released in August 2020 in the middle of the pandemic, grossed less than $10 million.

Scots Napoleon follows the rise and fall of the French emperor and his worldwide naval victories, to Waterloo and his exile on St. Vanessa Kirby plays his one true love, Josephine.

The film was shown to the media this week and so far has 62 reviews, including 66% from critics on New with Rotten Tomatoes.

Deadline critic Damon Wise praised Phoenix in his film review this week: “It’s hard to imagine an actor making it this compelling, but Phoenix pulls it off. A feat that’s particularly impressive given the film’s self-assured, poignant nature: “The self-proclaimed warlord has sent more than three million men to their deaths in just 22 years.”

Napoleon is the second major theatrical release for Apple from a major studio distributor. Apple has Martin Scorsese’s Flower Moon Killer via Paramount, which has earned $61.3 million in the US and $138.5 million at WW to date.

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