'Paddington in Peru' Sails Past Major Global Box Milestone Ahead of Domestic Debut

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Paddington riding on an umbrella on the poster for his new movie.

Family films have consistently delivered strong results at the box office in the post-pandemic era, even as other genres, such as horror, have struggled. The latest example of a hit aimed directly at families is Paddington in Peru, and the movie hasn't even opened in domestic theaters yet. The third installment in the massively acclaimed franchise has passed a coveted milestone at the global box office, a week ahead of its stateside debut. It's still the lowest-grossing installment of the popular trilogy, based on the children's books by Michael Bond, but it's well on its way to blockbuster success.

This weekend, Paddington in Peru passed the $100 million milestone at the international box office. It made around $7.5 million last week, and its actual haul now stands at $104 million, of which over $45 million has come from the United Kingdom. Paddington in Peru was produced on a reported budget of around $90 million, making it the most expensive installment of the series. By comparison, the first Paddington movie made $260 million a decade ago; of this total, over $75 million came from domestic theaters. The film was produced on a reported budget of $55 million. Paddington 2 was released in 2018; the movie made $240 million worldwide and around $40 million domestically, against a reported budget of over $40 million.

Both the first and second Paddington films are among the best-reviewed blockbusters of all time. The first Paddington holds a 97% "fresh" score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, while Paddington 2 has an even better 99% rating. By comparison, Paddington in Peru currently holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is directed by Dougal Wilson, who takes over from the first two films' Paul King. King shifted focus to directing Wonka, which made over $600 million globally and will likely spawn a sequel.

The Paddington Movies Appeal to Both Kids and Adults

Paddington in Peru follows the titular character on an adventure to South America, where he tries to track down his beloved Aunt Lucy. The Paddington movies may be aimed at kids, but they've been acclaimed for their treatment of serious themes such as displacement and immigration. Featuring Ben Whishaw and Imelda Staunton as Paddington and his Aunt Lucy, the movie also features Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas, and Olivia Colman.

Paddington in Peru will be released domestically on February 14. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.