Cast members Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham arrive at the premiere for"Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" in Los Angeles, California, US, July 13, 2019.
"Hobbs & Shaw" kicked off internationally with a robust $120 million for a global start of $180 million. Though standalone vehicles aren't always as muscular as official franchise sequels, "Hobbs & Shaw" will have to lure crowds across the globe throughout the dog days of summer to justify its sizable $200 million budget.
Its $60 million domestic opening weekend marks the biggest bow for Johnson and Statham's careers outside of the main "Fast & Furious" franchise. The star-studded cast also includes Helen Mirren and Vanessa Kirby. David Leitch, known for his work on "Deadpool 2," directed the film, which was written by "Fast" vets Chris Morgan and Drew Pearce.
Meanwhile, reigning champ Disney's "The Lion King" slid to the No. 2 spot with a solid $38 million. The hyperrealistic remake -- directed by Jon Favreau -- is the fourth Disney movie this year to cross $400 million in domestic ticket sales. With $430 million in North America and $1.19 billion internationally, "The Lion King" is now the second-biggest film of the year both domestically and globally.