Minions & Monsters is on track to open to around 170 million dollars worldwide this weekend. The animated film from Illumination expands to 59 new territories overseas while targeting strong numbers in North America over the Independence Day holiday period.
Overseas previews are forecast at 90 million dollars across markets including the UK, Germany, Mexico and China. The film has already generated 10 million dollars in 10 earlier territories.
In North America the picture is tracking for 60 million to 90 million dollars from Wednesday through Sunday at about 4,000 theaters. Independence Day falls on Saturday this year, shifting the biggest grossing days to Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The sequel is the best-reviewed entry in the franchise so far with a 92 percent fresh rating. Oscar-nominated director Pierre Coffin returns to helm the story of the Minions conquering Hollywood in the 1920s before unleashing monsters they must then stop.