Fox-distribbed Telecinco Cinema production “El Nino,” part of Studiocanal’s Toronto slate, has punched the best opening frame for any Spanish film this year, with a €2.9 million ($3.81 million) first weekend.
Bow is also the third-best of any film this year, shaded by “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” ($4.65 million) and “Maleficent” ($4.3 million).
“’El Nino’ marks a new hit for Telecinco Cinema and Fox. The films is one of the most anticipated in a year where Spanish cinema should beat box office records,” said Arturo Guillen, VP Rentrak, Europe.
Produced by Spain’s Ikiru Films and Vaca Films for Telecinco Cinema, “El Nino” had multiple box office winds its favor.
Set in the Gibraltar Straits, which moves 500 tons of drugs a year between Morocco, Gibraltar and Spain, One of the most ambitious action thrillers ever from Spain, with spectacular action scenes as a small-time Moroccan drug runner speed boats across the Straits, dodging customs police.
HispanoFox is judged one of Spain’s savviest distributors. Movie co-stars Luis Tosar (“Miami Vice), an admired actor in Spain, plus a to-notch cast of character actors and Ian McShane (“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”).
“El Nino” marks director Daniel Monzon’s breakout B.O. hit “Cell 211,” also toplining Tosar.
And, implementing one of the most successful last-decade business models in international – big broadcaster promotion muscle for a big national title – Telecinco Cinema owner Mediaset Espana, Spain’s biggest broadcast network, put its back behind “El Nino” promoting it during key TV transmissions – World Cup soccer, for instance – and across its phalanx of free-to-air channels.
