'Maleficent' tops Philippine box office

MANILA, June 2, 2014 – Disney's “Maleficent” took the top spot in the Philippine box office, raking in P179.9-million in five days nationwide for the May 28 to June 1 weekend, the local office of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International, the film's distributor said.

That opening gross is the second biggest this year, behind last April's “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (P251 million) and higher than the recent “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (P175-M) which bowed last week.

The movie surpassed the lifetime revenues of Disney's biggest non-Marvel titles including “Prince of Persia” (P156 milllion), “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End” (P155 million) and “Alice in Wonderland” (P140 million).

The “Sleeping Beauty” spinoff also shattered the record for biggest opening weekend for an Angelina Jolie live-action movie, beating the lifetime grosses of “Salt” (P131 million), “Wanted” (P95 million) and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (P83 million).

Overseas, “Maleficent” also reigned over the weekend box office, debuting to $70 million domestically (United States) and $100.6 million internationally.

The film reeled off in 264 screens (including 8 IMAX) in 122 locations. SM North EDSA garnered the largest share of box-office receipts with P8.41 million, followed closely by SM Mall of Asia (P8.29 million), SM Megamall (P8.06 million), SM Cebu (P7.09 million) and Trinoma (P6.19 million).

Grosses were also posted by Glorietta 4 (P4.74 million), Ayala Cebu (P4.07 million), Bonifacio High Street (P4.03 million), SM Aura (P3.47 million) and Alabang Town Center (P3.39 million).

Rounding out the Top 20 cinemas are Newport City (P3.33 million), Eastwood (P3.05 million), SM Southmall (P2.97 million), Power Plant (P2.96 million), Greenbelt 3 (P2.85 million), Greenhills Promenade (P2.82 million), SM Fairview (P2.57 million), Gateway (P2.56 million), SM Clark (P2.49 million) and Market! Market! (P2.48 million).

“Maleficent” explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.

The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville.

Now playing across the Philippines in 3D, 2D, MAX 3D and 4DX formats, “Maleficent” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.