'Godzilla Vs Kong' sets global pandemic record

Kong not only smacked Godzilla in the movie but also 'Wonder Woman 1984' in terms of box office collection. Photo: Handout

This weekend's international rollout of Warner Bros' Godzilla Vs Kong set a new pandemic record for a Hollywood film, a hopeful sign of an imminent return to moviegoing.

The film, which opens in North American theaters and on HBO Max on Wednesday, debuted in 38 overseas markets to an impressive US$121.8mil, including US$70.3mil in Chinese receipts. That's the biggest debut for a Hollywood film in China since 2019. The monster smackdown also grossed US$12.4mil on 891 IMAX screens, also Hollywood's biggest IMAX weekend since December 2019.