Earlier installments, 'Into Darkness' and 'Star Trek' raked in $70.2 million and $75.2 million at the openings respectively
Star Trek Beyond debuted to a solid $59.6 million this weekend, signaling that after six television series, 13 movies and 50 years in the pop culture conversation, there's still life left in one of Hollywood's most durable franchises.
And there are more intergalactic missions to come. As boon to Trekkies, Paramount took the unusual step of announcing yet another sequel was in the works even before this latest USS Enterprise adventure sailed into theaters. The studio has lined up Chris Hemsworth to reprise his role as Capt. Kirk's father despite the fact that he was incinerated in a spaceship disaster in a previous film. In science-fiction, it seems, death is merely a temporary predicament.
"You can count on one hand the brands that have this kind of longevity and viability over time," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at comScore. "These characters are so clearly defined and people just respond to their sense of camaraderie."
The latest chapter in the Star Trek saga performed respectably, but its opening is down from the two previous films in the series. Star Trek Beyond couldn't match the $70.2 million launch of 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness nor could it top the $75.2 million bow of 2009's Star Trek. Moreover, with a price tag of $185 million, plus tens of millions in promotional spending, the film needs to perform well overseas if it's going to make a profit.
Star Trek Beyond represented a passing of the baton. JJ Abrams, the director who revitalised the series by arming it with a youthful cast and sprinkling in lens flares, departed Star Trek to make Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That left Justin Lin, who made his bones on the Fast & Furious series, manning the Enterprise. He brought back cast members Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban and mixed in a new villain, played by Idris Elba.
In North America, the film got a lift from Imax screenings, earning $8.4 million from 387 locations.
On Sunday, Paramount brass argued that under Abrams, the Star Trek series has broadened its international appeal. The film's emphasis on action and the studio's decision to partner with the likes of Alibaba have strengthened its connection to foreign audiences, they said.
"This is a big global franchise now," said Rob Moore, Paramount's vice chairman. "It was a series that traditionally did well domestically or with English-speaking audiences. But since JJ took over, the franchise has become much more accessible globally."
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