Detective Pikachu beats Tomb Raider to claim best US opening weekend for video game film

Although the bar was set fairly low, Detective Pikachu has managed to claim the title of best ever opening weekend for a video game film. In the US, at least.

According to figures from Box Office Mojo, the film pulled in $58m (£44.5m) during its American debut, earning around $10m more than 2001's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, which managed $47.7m (£36.6m). This is not adjusted for inflation, however, so perhaps the classic Lara Croft title would have fared better had it been released in 2019.

Meanwhile, the worldwide figures paint a slightly different story, with Warcraft still comfortably holding onto the title of best video game film opening weekend globally. Detective Pikachu managed a respectable $161m (£123.66) worldwide, but importantly Warcraft earned a whopping $156m (£119.7m) in China in its first five days - even if its American takings totalled a disappointing $24.4m (£18.43) during the same period (via The Guardian).

Read more