Despite a seven-year gap since the second installment, "Paddington in Peru" has achieved a record-breaking opening weekend at the U.K. box office, proving that the beloved Paddington Bear franchise still has strong appeal, so reported by Variety. The film's £9.65 million ($12.4) three-day earnings not only mark the biggest opening of the year for British-produced films but also the largest since "No Time to Die" in 2021.
This success is particularly significant for StudioCanal, as it represents the company's largest opening in the U.K. to date, despite being their most costly investment in a film. It seems that the charming CGI bear with a love for marmalade sandwiches has once again won the hearts of audiences. On the contrary, the initial “Paddington” movie debuted with a £5.1 million opening in 2014, and its 2017 sequel garnered £8.2 million. Together, they amassed over $600 million worldwide, establishing the most prosperous independent family series. Although there are high expectations for “Paddington in Peru” to solidify this reputation and propel it towards the $1 billion milestone, the film will not be released in the U.S. by Sony until January 17.
"Paddington in Peru" debuted in 732 cinemas, marking the year's third highest opening after "Deadpool & Wolverine" (£17.2m) and "Inside Out 2" (£11.3m). The movie "Paddington in Peru" is based on the popular children's book series by British author Michael Bond. In this adventure, Paddington receives a letter from Peru informing him of his Aunt Lucy's mysterious disappearance from her jungle cabin at the Home for Retired Bears. Joining forces with the Brown family, they embark on an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and the mountain peaks of Peru to solve the mystery.
Ben Whishaw reprises his role as the voice of Paddington, joined by returning cast members Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Madeleine Harris, and Samuel Joslin. The new additions to the cast include Olivia Colman, Emily Mortimer, Carla Tous, and Antonio Banderas.