(From left) Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia. Image: Instagram/@starmagicphils
“Un/Happy For You,” the reunion film of ex-partners Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto (or JoshLia), is shaping up to be a success as it has already earned P200 million in box office sales.
In a press statement from Star Cinema, the Petersen Vargas-helmed film recorded P200 million in gross ticket sales as of Friday, August 22. It also stated that “Un/Happy For You” kicked off its screening with an initial gross of P20.5 million, making it the film with highest opening week for this year.
The movie topped its contemporaries: “Alien: Romulus,” and “The Crow,” which are both reimagining of old classics, and the local film, “Whispers in the Wind,” starring Carlo Aquino and Barbie Imperial.
The JoshLia starrer is currently on its second week in cinemas. It was also announced that it would be screened in cinemas in different countries including the US, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Malta, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cambodia, Bahrain, and Saipan, to name a few.
The film tells the story of Juancho (Garcia) and Zy (Barretto) who reunite in Bicol after their breakup. As soon as Juancho finds out that Zy is engaged to someone else, he makes it a mission to ensure that she “will never be happy.”
The movie also stars Ketchup Eusebio, John Lapus, Nonie Buencamino, Kaila Estrada, Aljon Mendoza, and Bong Gonzales.
In several interviews, Garcia and Barretto reiterated that they’re on friendly terms and wouldn’t accept the project if they’re not in a “stable place” in their respective lives. Both also expressed what they’re thankful and sorry for in their two-year relationship.
The ex-couple are happy with their respective relationships: Barretto with actor Gerald Anderson, while Garcia is rumored to be dating Filipino-French professional golfer Emilienne Vigier. Both Anderson and Vigier expressed their support for the JoshLia film on separate occasions as well.