UPDATE, writethru: Disney/Marvel’s Ant-Man And The Wasp buzzed into China this weekend, winging to a $68M start there. The 4th best MCU opening ever in the market is also the 3rd highest of the year for a Hollywood movie in the Middle Kingdom. It zaps the worldwide AM&TW total up to $544.1M, and the international box office cume to $332.6M with Japan still to come.

Including China and 27 other offshore markets, the full weekend was $71.2M. The critters this frame overtook the unadjusted global tally of the first film and are running 35% above it overseas.

The PROC debut on the Paul Rudd sequel came in 66% ahead of the first Ant-Man and included $7.2M from IMAX, making it the best August weekend launch ever for the format there.

Ti Gong Also in China, Warner Bros/Gravity Pictures’ The Meg clenched super midweeks, ranking No. 1 Monday-Thursday. Over the weekend, however, the shark jumped aside and landed No. 3 behind the Marvel insects and new local entry Big Brother, starring Donnie Yen. The Meg‘s cume in China is $143M a few days before Mission: Impossible – Fallout lands in the market.

The Meg continues to show its teeth outside China, too, crossing both the $300M overseas and $400M worldwide milestones this session. The weekend was worth $32.7M in 65 markets including No. 1 openings in 9 out of 10 new hubs and maintaining No. 1 in 17 holdover markets. The sci-fi shark has also taken over from Rampage’s sci-fi ape to become the top WB title of 2018 across Latin America.

Warner Bros Elsewhere, Warner Bros’ Crazy Rich Asians hit its first South East Asian markets. The domestic juggernaut grossed $6M in 18 markets including seeing records in Singapore and Malaysia where it had the biggest openings ever for a romantic comedy. The film is set in Singapore and was shot there. Some local backlash in recent weeks over representation appears not to have dented the debut.

Also, Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 has now cumed $1.141B worldwide to move into the 19th slot on the all-time chart. In the UK it is the 2nd biggest animated release ever.

The new offering in some overseas majors, STX’s The Happytime Murders, bowed to just $1.2M in 18 markets including Australia, Spain, Mexico and the Netherlands.

Overall and boosted by Ant-Man‘s Middle Kingdom start, the weekend’s Top 5 studio pictures internationally are down just 1.4% versus last frame. Compared to last year, they’re up 58%. Next weekend should continue a healthy trend with Mission: Impossible – Fallout touching ground in China on Friday (Salman Khan’s 2016 wrestling pic Sultan is also headed there).

Breakdowns on the films above and more have been updated below.

HOLDOVERS/EXPANSIONS

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

Huaxia/Disney In its 8th weekend, Disney/Marvel’s Ant-Man And The Wasp swooped into China, not the last of its offshore markets in what has been a staggered release, but certainly the biggest for the size-morphers. A $68M start in the Middle Kingdom makes the Peyton Reed-helmed sequel the 4th best bow for an MCU title in the market. It’s also the 3rd best of 2018 for a non-local pic. The full weekend was $71.2M in 28 markets for an international cume of $332.6M and a global haul of $544.1M.

Douban is giving Ant-Man a 7.6 and he has a little bit of time to stretch his legs in China, but Mission: Impossible – Fallout is hot on his tail debuting this coming Friday. The opening was 66% bigger than the previous Ant-Man standalone and brought with it $7.2M from IMAX for the best August start of a movie in the format in the market.

Holds elsewhere continued to be solid, including in Germany (-15%), Poland (-32%), Italy (-36%), the UK (-42%) and France (-43%).

The Top 5 hubs to date are now China ($68M), Korea ($42.4M), the UK ($19.8M), Mexico ($15M) and Australia ($14.6M).

Next weekend opens Japan.

THE MEG

Warner Bros. The prehistoric shark keeps on swimming past milestones as The Meg crosses $300M offshore and $400M worldwide. Warner Bros/Gravity Pictures’ U.S.-China co-production added $32.7M in 65 markets this session, playing on about 16K screens. The overseas cume is $303.3M for $408.6M global. The Meg is still to take a bite out of Japan on September 7.

There were 10 openings in the frame with No. 1s in nine of them while 17 markets held at No. 1. In Latin America, the shark jumped the ape to take over from Rampage as WB’s biggest movie of 2018 (individually, it is WB’s best of 2018 in Brazil).

France was the big new entry with $4.5M from 550K admissions on 428 screens. A dominant No. 1, the summer popcorn pic came in ahead of nearly all comps including 40% over San Andreas and more than double Geostorm and Rampage.

Following a powerful week that saw The Meg take the top spot at China turnstiles from Monday-Thursday, the Jason Statham-starrer added $7M on 4,450 screens and ended the session there at No. 3. The cume to date is $143M which clamps The Meg’s jaws around the No. 11 spot for the year so far.

A $17M cume in Mexico makes Meg the big kahuna of 2018 for WB. The UK is the next best hub at $15.3M. Russia ($11.9M) and Spain ($8.4M) round out the Top 5.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION

Sony Also crossing another milestone, Sony’s HT3 sailed past the $300M international buoy with $301.8M through Sunday. Global is now $460.4M on the Genndy Tartakovsky-helmed threequel. In the current weekend, the Drac Pack picked up $17.8M from 15,600 screens in 62 markets.

Italy boarded the party boat with a solid $5.8M, on par with HT2. In China, where HT3 bowed last weekend, its got competition from Ant-Man and some local fare, along with the seafaring Meg, but has handily topped the previous installment from 2015.

Mexico leads all play at $26.5M followed by China ($26.2M), the UK ($20.4M), Brazil ($19.1M) and Russia ($18.8M).

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT

Paramount As Paramount/Skydance’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout gets ready to parachute into China (with an assist from Alibaba Pictures and with Tom Cruise visiting the market this week), the international cume through Sunday is $344.8M for $538.7M worldwide. Unmasking another $13M in 61 markets this session, the movie had a 38% holdover drop. For the same markets, Fallout is running 17% ahead of Rogue Nation.

Highlights of the session include France which, in its 4th weekend, added $1.9M at 930 for a 33% dip and a $22M cume. Slow-burn Japan is keeping the fuse lit with a $35.4M total to date off of a 38% weekend drop. Germany slid just 10% for a $12.3M total to date after four frames. And the UK after five sessions has grossed $28.1M (-37% week-on-week). Other major cumes include Australia at $12.2M, Brazil at $11.4M and the Netherlands with $6.1M.

Before China on August 31, Fallout jumps into Italy on August 29.

MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN

Universal Universal’s sequel opened in Japan this weekend and took a total $11.8M in 64 markets. In 31, the follow-up to 2008’s smash has surpassed the lifetime of that movie, including Mexico, Finland and the Netherlands.

The drop from last frame was 39% with the international cume now at $229.9M and the global tally singing a $345.2M tune.

Japan opened to $1.85M at 337 locations and is expected to see strong leg-out. The UK has amassed a stunning $76M and is holding at No. 2 in frame 6. Korea dipped 36% in its 3rd session for $15.2M to date and Germany dropped by just 15% for an $18M total. The Saturday there was up 22% from last weekend. The Netherlands had an excellent 9% drop and is at $7.7M.

Next weekend adds Chile followed by Italy on September 6.

THE EQUALIZER 2

After beginning wider rollout last weekend, Sony’s sequel added $11M from 6,050+ screens in 41 markets. The offshore cume is now $47.4M. Notable holds were seen in Austria (+26%), Germany (-16%), the Netherlands (-24%), Belgium (-35%), and the UK (-43%). Upcoming major markets on the Denzel Washington-starrer include Russia, Italy and Japan in September and October.

INCREDIBLES 2

Disney/Pixar Disney/Pixar’s 11th weekend at bat with Incredibles 2 posted a $7.9M take in 28 markets for $543.9M internationally and $1.141B global. Turkey and Norway were new to visit with the Parr family, both opening No. 1. In the UK, the sequel has become the 2nd highest grossing animated movie ever with $66.4M to lead all markets.

Holds are still strong as summer draws to an end, notably in Czech Rep (+5%), the Netherlands (+2%), Poland (+2%), Belgium (-5%), France (-5%), Japan (-25%), the UK (-29%) and Spain (-36%).

After the UK, the Top 5 is rounded out by China ($53.7M), France ($38.4M), Mexico ($37.2M) and Brazil ($37.2M).

There is still more action to come with next weekend opening the rest of Scandinavia and Italy and Germany on deck in September.

ALPHA

Sony Sony and Studio 8’s adventure grossed $6.7M in 17 markets on 4,390+ screens. That takes the early international cume to $7.3M. Russia opened No. 1 with $3.2M, followed by Spain ($1.2M/No. 1), India ($575K), France ($525K, including previews) and Ukraine ($420K/No. 1). Majors ahead on the Albert Hughes-directed family drama about a young man and his wolf include Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Australia and Italy through early October.

DISNEY’S CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

Led by a No. 1 hold in the UK, the Ewan McGregor-starrer added $5.9M in 32 material markets this weekend. The overseas cume is now $35.1M with global crossing $100M at $112.7M. Indonesia was a new hub with $900K including previews, putting it in a close race for No. 1. Austria, where the box office bounded upwards this weekend, had a +122% hold while Poland (+11%) and Germany (+4%) also saw increases. Malaysia (-18%), the Netherlands (-21%), Belgium (-24%), Peru (-26%) and the UK (-30%) were among the best drops.

The UK ($8.6M) leads all markets on the tale of Pooh’s titular pal, followed by Mexico ($4.7M), Russia ($3.8M), Germany ($1.8M) and Hong Kong ($1.2M). Italy, Australia, Japan, Spain, Korea and France are still ahead through October.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Warner Bros. Warner Bros’ domestic phenomenon had a record opening in Singapore, which figures prominently in the movie. The bow was worth $1.8M on 105 screens with 68% market share at No. 1. This is the best-ever romcom opening and the biggest weekend for WB in 2018 in the market. The film, which opened across a national holiday, dominated social media in the run-up to release and was made with an assist from the Singapore Film Commission and the Tourism Board. State-owned media channels promoted it with gusto. An online backlash over representation that began several weeks ago evidently did not have an impact.

Given the subject matter, the film was expected to perform in Singapore and Malaysia where it also scored an all-time best for a romcom with $749K. A curiosity factor propelled by the amazing run it’s having in the U.S. is also helping to drive audiences. The Philippines grossed $1.5M on 265 screens for a clear No. 1 slot and the biggest opening weekend for a WB title in 2018 as well as the best English-language romcom launch ever.

The total take on 1,195 screens in 18 markets was $6M this weekend for an offshore total to date of $7.1M.

The film next travels to Australia where it is expected to see a strong run. It’s thought it will lean into the English-speaking offshore hubs; the UK is up on September 14. But some of Asia is not expected to see game-changing results. In part, watchers say that’s down to markets that have a robust local industry making an all-Asian cast less of the revelation it is elsewhere. Still, word of mouth and the curiosity factor could have a very positive role here. A question mark hovers over China where there is currently no date on Crazy Rich Asians.

SLENDER MAN

Sony’s horror pic added 30 new markets this session to scare up $5.8M in 37. The offshore cume is $8M. Mexico led with $1.4M, followed by Brazil ($700K), Australia ($635K, including previews) and the UK ($490K). On deck are Italy and Spain in September and October.

THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME

Lionsgate’s comedy had a bigger weekend this time around, picking up $5.8M across 74 markets for a total $20M so far. The next major market to release is Germany, where Hollywood comedies typically find their best reception outside the English-speaking markets. The Top 5 so far are Australia ($2.4M), Middle East ($2M), Russia ($2M), the UK ($1.3M) and Korea ($1.3M).

BLACKKKLANSMAN

David Lee/Focus Features A $5.6M weekend in 17 markets was led by France with $2.27M from 316 locations. The No. 2 start is the 2nd best for Spike Lee and is tracking ahead of Straight Outta Compton and Three Billboards. The Universal release will have been boosted by BlackKklansman’s big win in Cannes last May which gave the film an extra dose of local publicity. Also new was the UK with $1.3M at 220. This reps Lee’s 2nd biggest opening weekend. And, Germany grossed $602K at 133 on strong word of mouth.

Holdovers were down 39% and the international total is now $8.3M for $40.4M worldwide. Majors up ahead include Italy on September 27, Russia on October 4, Spain and Brazil in November and Mexico in December.

MILE 22

STX’s Mark Wahlberg actioner added 11 markets this session for $5.6M to take the overseas cume to $6.3M. The Peter Berg-directed pic had bowed in six smaller markets last weekend. The results in most openings this weekend are above comps like Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon. The Middle East grosed $2.4M; Indonesia came in at $1.5M for +107% on 2 Guns. Korea shrugged to $417K from 203 locations an a No. 9 start. Still to go are France, Australia, Mexico, Germany, the UK, Brazil, Spain and Italy through November.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE (*Denotes new)

Fox The Darkest Minds (FOX): $2.8M intl weekend (47 markets/good hold in France $4.4M cume); $23.1M intl cume

Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (WB): $2.5M intl weekend (25 markets/Mexico debut tops comps at $1.2M); $9.2M intl cume

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (UNI): $1.7M intl weekend (40 markets); $882.5M intl cume ($68.8M in Japan, topping Last Jedi)

The First Purge (UNI): $1.4M intl weekend (33 markets); $63.9M intl cume

*The Happytime Murders (STX): $1.2M intl weekend (18 markets led by Australia’s $585K from 301 sites)

Skyscraper (UNI): $400K intl weekend (48 markets); $135.4M intl cume (excludes China)

Adrift (STX): $252K intl weekend (60 markets); $21.9M intl cume

LOCAL-LANGUAGE

Bullet Films Donnie Yen-starrer Big Brother grossed an estimated $13M in China this weekend to land No. 2 behind Ant-Man. The movie’s directed by Kam Ka-wai and sees Yen as a soldier turned high school teacher who takes on the bad guys when one of his students is abducted. Yen also exec produces. In Korea, romance pic On Your Wedding Day opened to $5.8M via Megabox. The tale of a decade-long roller-coaster love story is directed by Lee Seok-keun. And in Japan, Warner Bros’ Gintama Live Action 2 added $4.2M in its sophomore frame to lift the cume to $15.7M.

Meanwhile, ahead of its festival rollout, Argentine film El Angel, from Fox International Productions, is still No. 1 at home after three weeks. The local cume has hit $4.07M.