The Warcraft movie may have tanked in the United States, but it did much better in China. Although it never even cracked $US50 million ($65.7 million) in the US, the film’s massive success in China accounted for more than half of Warcraft’s $US430 million ($565 million) total box office — and yet, Warcraft is still poised to lose money.
Even with a Chinese premiere that was the largest foreign debut in that county’s history and $US430 million ($565 million) made, Warcraft is still not going to make a profit. Last month, The Hollywood Reporter estimated that the movie would need $US450 million ($591.3 million) to break even. Its theatrical run has already begun slowing down, leaving it about $US20 million ($26.2 million) short or breaking even right now.
According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s sources close to the film, the final deficit will end up being about $US15 million ($19.7 million). (Others, not including the Chinese digital deal and merchandising, put the loss at between $US30 million [$39.4 million] and $US40 million [$52.5 million].) $US15 million is a low loss for a movie that cost $US160 million ($210.2 million) to make, but Hollywood maths is not like regular maths.
This puts a damper on the idea that success in China paved the way for a Warcraft sequel. Warcraft 2: The Search for More Money isn’t looking nearly as likely as did when the movie started taking China by storm. If there is one, it’s going to have be a whole lot cheaper than the first movie was.