Monsters U tops box office in PH opening weekend at P58.22M

MANILA, Philippines — Disney/Pixar’s comedy adventure “Monsters University” graduated at the top of Philippine box-office with honors as it amassed a sensational P58.22-million nationwide gross for its five-day opening weekend June 26-30.

This was announced Tuesday by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines.

“Monsters University’s” opening now represents the most successful launch for a Pixar title, outpacing the old record of 2010’s “Toy Story 3” at P55.6-million.

Industry-wide, the film nabbed the second biggest opening ever for an animated title, as well as the fifth highest bow ever for a Disney film – animated or live-action.

In the US, the prequel to the 2001 blockbuster “Monsters, Inc.” was No. 1 for the second consecutive weekend, reaching a stellar $171 million through Sunday.  The movie has so far earned just north of $300 million worldwide, including nearly $130 million from 37 overseas territories.

Back in the Philippines, “Monsters U” rolled out in 132 screens, posting its largest receipts from SM North EDSA with P2.71-M, followed by SM Mall of Asia with P2.46-M and Trinoma at P2.38-M.

Also performing exceedingly well are Power Plant (P2.36-M), SM Megamall (P2.01-M), Glorietta 4 (P1.74-M), Eastwood (P1.52-M), Greenbelt 3 (P1.40-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.38-M) and SM Southmall (P1.32-M).

Rounding up the Top 20 cinemas are Newport City (P1.17-M), Gateway (P1.14-M), SM Fairview (P1.09-M), Robinsons Galleria (P1.027-M), Festival Mall (P1.025-M), Shang Cineplex (P1.01-M), SM Marikina (P 979,642), SM San Lazaro (P 958,300), Ayala Cebu (P 906,156) and Robinsons Ermita (P 876,422).

Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, “Monsters University” tells of the early adventures of monsters Mike and Sulley as college students.

Ever since Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU).

But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer.

The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program.

To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right.

Now playing across the Philippines in Disney Digital 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “Monsters University” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.