Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ Conquers Box Office on Its Global Opening Weekend

Director Ridley Scott’s action epic Napoleon has reigned supreme at the box office, exceeding expectations with a victorious $78.8 million gross on its global opening weekend, including $46.3 million from international markets.

Starring Joaquin Phoenix as the famed French emperor, and Vanessa Kirby as his wife Josephine, the film debuted at No. 1 in France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Napoleon has yet to open in most parts of Asia, including the Philippines, where it will open November 29.

Joaquin Phoenix, director Ridley Scott and Vanessa Kirby at the Paris premiere of Napoleon on November 14. The film would go on to debut at No. 1 in France.

Joaquin Phoenix, director Ridley Scott and Vanessa Kirby at the London premiere of Napoleon on November 16. A few days later, the film opened at the top of the UK box office.

“History’s very interesting, because we don’t learn from all of our mistakes,” says Scott. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking, Napoleon captures the iconic French emperor’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.

“The war scenes are extraordinary, vigorous, harrowing and rightly grotesque,” says the New York Times of the film’s battle sequences. “The tremendous scale of some of these battles helps give them their visceral power, as does Scott’s complex staging and use of masses of human actors and horses.”Joaquin Phoenix and director Ridley Scott at the Madrid premiere of Napoleon on November 20.

Produced by Apple Original Films and distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International, Napoleon opens in cinemas November 29. Connect with the hashtag #Napoleon