Disney’s recent direct-to-video hit, Bambi II, has begun a successful thearical run overseas. According to Daily Variety, the 2D sequel has earnned more than $10 million in four markets and is expected to gross north around $50 million after opening wider in Europe and Latin America.
While Disney has lost confidence in 2D theatrical features at home, the studio has found the overseas box office a lucrative outlet for its lower-cost product. The Jungle Book 2 took in around $87 million in foreign markets, followed by Return to Never Land with $59 million, The Tigger Movie with $50 million and Piglet’s Big Movie with $37 million. The latest DisneyToon Studios release, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie, brought in approximately $34 million in theaters abroad.
Directed by Brian Pimental (writer on A Goofy Movie, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast), the followup to the 1942 classic has Bambi reunited with his father (voiced by Patrick Stewart), who must raise the young deer and teach him to be a Great Prince of the Forest like himself. Reconnecting with sweet doe Faline, Bambi finds himself challenged by a young buck with budding horns and faces even greater obstacles as he learns the ways of the forest.
During its first week at retail, Bambi II sold 2.5 million uniits in the U.S. Day-one sales alone hovered around 800,000 units, topping the 400,000-unit first day for DreamWorks’ and Aardman’s BAFTA winner and Oscar contennder, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
