Warner Bros. Pictures ‘Aquaman’ has rocked the local box office, taking more than R43 million locally and crossing the $1 billion worldwide in just over one month.
Aquaman is now the biggest Warner Bros. film of all time locally as well as the biggest DC title in South Africa. It is also the 3rd biggest Super Hero film of all time and the 4th biggest film for 2018.
Aquaman began its remarkable run with its release in China in December when, on the heels of an appearance by director James Wan and stars Jason Momoa and Amber Heard, the film celebrated an almost $95 million opening weekend, the highest-ever opening for a Warner Bros. film in that market. The stop was just one in a global tour that hit cities across four continents, from London to New York City to Manila, Australia and beyond, capping off a strategic campaign that kicked off last summer with Momoa diving off a cliff to preview the trailer launch ahead of the casts arrival at San Diego International Comic-Con.
“We’re thrilled audiences around the world have embraced Aquaman in such a big, big way,” said Ron Sanders, President of Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures Group and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Jason, the filmmakers and the team at DC have delivered a film that people love, and we are so appreciative of their support.
Aquaman has continued to ride the wave of success since its release in December,†commented Cameron Hogg, Commercial Executive for Empire Entertainment who sub-distributed the film in South Africa. “South Africans have connected with the hero and the story and we are excited to see what the film ultimately delivers.
ABOUT AQUAMAN
From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes Aquaman, the origin story of half-surface dweller, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry that takes him on the journey of his lifetime, one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be a king. The action-packed adventure spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, and stars Jason Momoa in the title role.
The film also stars Amber Heard as Mera, a fierce warrior and Aquaman’s ally throughout his journey; Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project) as Vulko, council to the Atlantean throne; Patrick Wilson as Orm, the present King of Atlantis; Dolph Lundgren as Nereus, King of the Atlantean tribe Xebel; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the revenge-seeking Black Manta; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman (The Hours) as Arthur’s mom, Atlanna. Also featured are Ludi Lin as Captain Murk, an Atlantean Commando, and Temuera Morrison as Arthur’s dad, Tom Curry.
Wan directed from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, story by Geoff Johns & James Wan and Will Beall, based on characters created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger for DC. The film was produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, with Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada serving as executive producers.
Wan’s team behind the scenes included such frequent collaborators as Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (Forrest Gump), Wan’s five-time editor Kirk Morri, production designer Bill Brzeski, and visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain. They were joined by costume designer Kym Barrett and composer Rupert Gregson-Williams.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Peter Safran Production, a James Wan Film, Aquaman. The film has been released in 3D and 2D and IMAX, and is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Read the SAMDB review of Aquaman.
