MANILA, PHILIPPINES — 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.
“History’s very interesting, because we don’t learn from all of our mistakes,” said Ridley. 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,” said 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.”
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.
