Universal’s summer blockbuster Battleship, which opened first overseas, added just $22.5 million to its coffers during its third weekend of release outside North America.  The movie, which debuted overseas first because foreign audiences are more receptive to generic special effects-heavy 3D blockbusters, was definitely hurt by the overseas debut of The Avengers last weekend.  While Battleship has earned $170.9 million in 17 days of release in 50 territories, The Avengers has pulled in $218 million in just six days of release in 39 territories.

 

Peter Berg’s alien invasion movie is loosely based on the popular Hasbro board game.  Universal admits to spending $209 million to produce Battleship (the actual cost of the film and its accompanying promotion will likely be a good deal higher, especially if the studio doubles down on ad spending to spur U.S. ticket sales), which means it will have to gross a half a billion dollars worldwide in order to break even.  Battleship opens in China this week, which should help, but there are few other foreign territories left to help pad the film’s overseas totals, which have yet to match the $200 million that John Carter earned outside of the U.S.

 

That leaves Battleship’s May 18th North American debut, which will likely make or break the film.  Will audiences tire of the "alien invasion" trope (The Avengers has one too), or will Battleship manage to capture the aura of a "fun popcorn movie" that made the similarly-themed Independence Day such a big hit?  Tyler Kitsch fans should hope that the movie is a hit here, unless they want their guy to have the dubious distinction of starring in the two biggest box office disappointments of 2012 (John Carter & Battleship).