Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love made a significant impact on international audiences from its release on Wednesday. The biopic, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, grossed an impressive $4.9M across 10 markets. Several of these markets awarded the reggae icon’s story with the top spot, making it the most successful music biopic opening day ever in Jamaica. The film’s initial international earnings now stand at $5.4M, including previews. As the release expands to 26 more markets today, it is expected to gain even more traction. By Friday, the Kingsley Ben-Adir-led film will be available in a total of 47 markets.
The UK was one of the standout markets for Bob Marley: One Love, achieving the number one spot on Wednesday. With a gross of $2.3M from 687 locations, this debut became the biggest opening day for any music biopic in the country. France was another success story, opening on top of the box office charts with $1.3M from 590 sites. Including previews, the film’s cumulative total stands at $1.7M in France. The only other music biopic to outperform it on an opening day in the country is La Vie en Rose. Similar to the response from domestic audiences, French viewers are showing great enthusiasm for the film.
Australia also witnessed a remarkable start, grabbing the number one position on Wednesday with $615K from 260 cinemas. This achievement makes it the second biggest music biopic opening day ever in the country, only behind the success of Bohemian Rhapsody. Spain, on the other hand, secured the third spot with $185K from 314 theaters, surpassing all other biopics except Bohemian Rhapsody. New Zealand had an excellent opening as well, debuting at number one with $175K from 103 locations. This amazing opening day became the biggest music biopic premiere and the most successful Valentine’s Day opening in the country.
Continued Success Around the World
Bob Marley: One Love continues to generate buzz in multiple markets worldwide. Sweden celebrated a number one opening day with $155K from 150 cinemas, only slightly behind Bohemian Rhapsody’s record. Belgium achieved a runner-up spot with its Wednesday debut, earning $130K, including previews. This marks the best opening day performance for a music biopic in the country. In Norway, the film also secured the top position at the box office, grossing $90K from 77 cinemas, trailing only Bohemian Rhapsody’s record.
The love for Bob Marley extended to his home country of Jamaica, where the film attracted a massive fanbase and earned the number one spot. The biopic dominated the market with an 89% share and broke records with a staggering $100K in box office earnings on its opening day. These outstanding results are a testament to the enduring legacy and connection Marley still holds with the Jamaican audience.
The success of Bob Marley: One Love can be attributed, in part, to a series of international premieres and promotional events. The cast and filmmakers embarked on a three-week tour that commenced on January 23 in Kingston, Jamaica. The tour included a fan event featuring performances by Mystic and Yohan Marley, as well as DJ Zuri Marley. The event attracted over 900 local cast, crew, and dignitaries, including the Jamaican Prime Minister and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Notable guests such as Rita Marley, Ben-Adir, James Norton, Ziggy Marley, Jeremy Kleiner, Robert Teitel, and Green were also in attendance.
The premiere tour continued with a star-studded event at the BFI IMAX Waterloo in London on January 30. DJ Zuri Marley entertained over 900 attendees with a selection of hits in two packed houses. Another memorable premiere took place at Paris’ Grand Rex on February 1, with an audience of 2,600 witnessing performances by popular recording artist Loreen and a custom choreographed moment by Sadeck Waff. Screenings were further organized in Berlin, Perth, and Melbourne, contributing to the film’s ongoing success.
Forthcoming Updates
As Bob Marley: One Love continues its international release, updates on its box office performance and audience reception will be provided throughout the weekend. The film’s remarkable journey has already showcased its appeal to audiences around the world, firmly establishing it as a global hit.