For those of you who have said that you can’t stand Kevin Hart, this may come as annoying news for you. His action-comedy film “Central Intelligence”, in which he co-stars with Dwayne Johnson, from director Rawson Marshall Thurber, officially became the highest grossing action comedy worldwide, so far this year.
“Central Intelligence,” from New Line Cinema, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, made its June 17th North American debut with an opening weekend total of $35.5 million. Propelled by enthusiastic word-of-mouth, an A- Cinema Score and the star power of Johnson and Hart, it has gone on to a record-setting domestic run, with a current estimate of $125.6 million. The film is also enjoying robust international returns at an estimated $75.9 million, bringing it to a cumulative worldwide box office total of more than $200 million, with additional territories yet to open.
The $75.9 million has so far been earned in 50 foreign territories across Europe, South America, Asia, the Middle East and even Russia and India, with Australia leading the way with $10.8 million, and the UK following closely behind with $10.4 million. Germany is third with $7.3 million; and Mexico follows with $5 million.
Said Duncan Clark, President of Universal Pictures International, “With their impeccable comedic timing, Dwayne and Kevin have proven to be the driving force behind ‘Central Intelligence’s’ global success. We are thrilled to continue our relationship with such incredible talent and filmmakers, and that our partnership with New Line and Warner Bros. on this film has been so successful.”
According the Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of worldwide distribution for Warner Bros: “We knew audiences would respond to the unbeatable chemistry of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart in this fun, action-packed comedy. ‘Central Intelligence’ plays big and delivers across a wide demographic.”
All this yet again proves the c lie that films with black actors don’t sell overseas.
Or, in other words, a sequel has already been greenlit.
“Central Intelligence” follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob (Johnson), who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, Bob enlists the help of former “big man on campus” Calvin (Hart), now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he’s getting into, it’s too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.
The film also stars Amy Ryan, Aaron Paul and Danielle Nicolet.
