Lead: Lionsgate’s Now You See Me: Now You Don’t opened at No.1 on the global box office with a $75.5 million weekend haul, claiming the top spot both domestically and overseas. The film generated $54.2 million from 64 international territories, led by a $19.2 million return in China. Released nearly a decade after the prior sequel, the $90 million production reunited franchise regulars and drew strong interest from foreign audiences. Competing releases showed mixed fortunes, with Demon Slayer posting a major China debut while other tentpoles underperformed relative to budgets.
Key Takeaways
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t grossed $75.5 million worldwide in its opening frame, with $54.2 million coming from 64 international territories.
- China accounted for $19.2 million of the film’s overseas total; other top foreign markets included South Korea ($3.9M), France ($3.5M) and the U.K. ($3.2M).
- The production budget for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t was $90 million, putting its break-even threshold above the opening weekend’s returns.
- Sony’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle opened in China with $52.4 million and has earned nearly $730 million worldwide in 2025 to date.
- Paramount’s The Running Man opened domestically to $17 million and added $11.2 million from 58 international markets against a $110 million budget.
- Warner Bros.’ One Battle After Another crossed $200 million global after a modest $1.4 million international uptick; its $140 million production cost and significant marketing spend leave profitability unclear.
- Theater exhibitors typically retain roughly 50% of ticket receipts, a key factor in studio revenue calculations and profit/loss estimates.
Background
The Now You See Me franchise first debuted as a high-concept heist-illusion series that blended spectacle with star-driven comedy-drama; the new entry arrived nearly ten years after the last installment. Over that interval the global marketplace shifted: China and other major non-U.S. territories now routinely determine a large share of a film’s upside, and sequels must recapture both legacy fans and new overseas audiences. Studios have leaned into international release strategies—timing, localized marketing and partner distribution—to maximize openings in key territories such as China, South Korea and Europe.
Production economics have also evolved. Mid-budget tentpoles that once relied on U.S. box office can now only be viable with robust overseas performance and controlled marketing spends. For franchise pictures, star attachments and familiar brand elements remain selling points, but studios face greater pressure when production budgets approach or exceed the low hundreds of millions. The current slate reflects a mix: some films thrive on international fandom, while others stumble despite strong creative personnel or notable casts.
Main Event
Lionsgate’s Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, directed by Ruben Fleischer, brought back Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco as a group of Robin Hood–like illusionists. The film opened at No.1 worldwide with $75.5 million, of which $54.2 million was reported from 64 overseas territories. China was the single largest international contributor at $19.2 million, demonstrating the franchise’s continued resonance there.
Sony’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle continued to perform strongly in China, with a $52.4 million opening there that helped push the film’s global tally to nearly $730 million for 2025 so far. The anime blockbuster remains one of the year’s dominant earners, underscoring the power of established IP with passionate fanbases in Asia and beyond.
Paramount’s R-rated adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell, failed to match studio expectations. After a $17 million domestic opening, the film added $11.2 million from 58 international markets—results that are weak relative to its $110 million production budget. Top foreign markets for The Running Man included the U.K. ($3.3M), Germany ($1.1M) and Australia ($1M).
Warner Bros.’ thriller One Battle After Another crossed the $200 million global threshold after another $1.4 million international weekend. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and headlined by Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, the film drew critical praise but faces a challenging financial picture given a $140 million production cost and substantial marketing expenditures.
Analysis & Implications
The opening for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t signals that established franchise brands can still mobilize global audiences when combined with broad distribution and recognizable casts. However, a $75.5 million global start against a $90 million production budget means the film will need sustained legs and ancillary revenue—streaming, TV and home entertainment—to move firmly into profitability. International splits heavily weighted toward China also increase exposure to single-market volatility and policy timing.
Demon Slayer’s continued dominance in China highlights the ongoing strength of anime IP and the outsized role that single territories can play in a title’s financial life cycle. For studios, reliably tapping those fan bases requires careful windowing, promotional tie-ins and often staggered release plans that respect local market calendars. That engine helps explain why comparatively modest domestic openings can still produce large global totals for certain properties.
The Running Man’s weak start is a reminder that name recognition and auteur talent do not guarantee box office returns. High production budgets combined with R-rated content can narrow the potential audience; international marketability may also be constrained if the premise or tone is perceived as niche. Studios will likely re-evaluate marketing spend and distribution windows for similarly priced adult-oriented tentpoles.
One Battle After Another demonstrates a frequent modern tension: critical acclaim does not directly translate into commercial success. With theaters keeping about half of ticket receipts and studios investing heavily in global marketing, films with mid-to-high budgets now require both strong domestic hold and meaningful overseas traction to break even. The current mix of results could push studios toward tighter budget discipline or alternative release strategies for prestige-leaning projects.
Comparison & Data
| Title | Opening / Recent Weekend | International | Production Budget | Notable Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Now You See Me: Now You Don’t | $75.5M (global) | $54.2M (64 territories) | $90M | China $19.2M; S. Korea $3.9M; France $3.5M; U.K. $3.2M |
| Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle | $52.4M (China opening) | — | — | China; global c.$730M total |
| The Running Man | $17M (domestic) | $11.2M (58 markets) | $110M | U.K. $3.3M; Germany $1.1M; Australia $1M |
| One Battle After Another | +$1.4M (recent int.) | — | $140M | Crossed $200M global |
The table above compares openings, known international returns and production budgets where available. It shows the variation in how regional performance and budgets interact: Demon Slayer’s China-heavy haul contrasts with the broader but more modest international splits for the other titles. Analysts use these breakdowns to model studio revenue after exhibitor shares and marketing expenses are applied.
Reactions & Quotes
Studio and industry responses were measured, emphasizing different takeaways: Lionsgate highlighted franchise momentum and the importance of international markets; trackers pointed to China’s decisive role this weekend; some exhibitors noted stronger-than-expected crowds for spectacle-driven fare.
“The international response—especially in China—validated our approach to the franchise relaunch.”
Lionsgate (studio statement)
The studio framed the opening as a positive step for a long-dormant property, while cautioning that full profitability depends on sustained box office and downstream sales. Industry trackers underscored the film’s reliance on a handful of high-performing territories.
“Demon Slayer’s China opening shows how single-market strength can carry a title’s global profile this year.”
Industry box-office tracker
Market analysts used the Demon Slayer result to illustrate the concentrated nature of 2025 grosses: when one territory posts a massive number, it can reshape yearly rankings even if other markets are quieter. Meanwhile, comments about The Running Man focused on the misalignment between budget and audience reach.
“A $110 million production needs broader international traction; current numbers put pressure on the title’s long-term returns.”
Box-office analyst
Unconfirmed
- Exact global marketing spend for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t has not been disclosed; estimates of tens of millions are unverified.
- Detailed studio profit/loss statements for these titles have not been published; public box office totals do not reveal backend deals or ancillary revenue.
- Specific territory-by-territory revenue shares and distributor splits were not provided and remain subject to contractual variation.
Bottom Line
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t enjoyed a solid global launch led by China, demonstrating that recognizable franchises can still mobilize international audiences after long gaps between installments. However, its $75.5 million opening against a $90 million production budget means the picture will rely on steady legs and secondary revenue streams to achieve profitability.
The wider weekend underscored a split marketplace: Demon Slayer continues to generate outsized returns from China, while other big-budget titles like The Running Man and One Battle After Another face financial pressure despite varying critical reception. Going forward, studios will likely weigh budgets and marketing strategies more tightly against each title’s clear international appeal.
Sources
- Variety — entertainment trade reporting and box office roundup
- Box Office Mojo — box office tracker and historical data
- Lionsgate — studio official site / press materials
- Sony Pictures — studio official site / press materials
- Warner Bros. — studio official site / press materials