'Spider-Man: Homecoming' breaks PH records, swings to top spot

Peter Parker triumphantly returned home to a hero's welcome as Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man: Homecoming opened at the top spot in the Philippines, amassing P208.44-million in only its first four days of release, according to the studio.

The new adventure starring Tom Holland as the 15-year-old Peter Parker broke the industry's record for All-Time Biggest July Opening Weekend ever, as well as three long-held records by Columbia Pictures – Biggest Non-Holiday Opening Weekend, Single Biggest Day of All-Time (at P70.9-M) on Saturday, July 8 and the Second Biggest Single Day (at P68-M) on Sunday, July 9.

Spidey's coming-of-age spectacle rolled out in 591 screens and 183 locations, with SM Mall of Asia (at P8.89-M), SM Megamall (P8.04-M) and SM North Edsa (P7.42-M) besting all cinemas in terms of sales.

In the Top 10 are Trinoma (P6.42-M), Glorietta IV (P4.79-M), Powerplant (P4.11-M), Greenbelt III (P3.59-M), Alabang Town Center (P3.47-M), Greenhills Promenade (P3.46-M) and Uptown Place (P3.06-M)

Fisher Mall leads the Top 20 with P3.01-M, followed by Robinsons Magnolia (P2.97-M), Gateway Cineplex (P2.94-M), SM Cebu (P2.87-M), U.P. Town Center (P2.85-M), SM Aura (P2.79-M), SM Southmall (P2.78-M), Ayala Cebu (P2.72-M), Eastwood (P2.70-M) and Bonifacio High Street (P2.59-M).

Rounding out the Top 30 are SM Clark (P2.56-M), Robinsons Ermita (P2.49-M), Shang Cineplex (P2.43-M), Fairview Terraces (P2.26-M), Market!Market! (P2.23-M), SM Seaside (2.16-M), SM Marikina (P2.11-M), SM Dasmarinas (P2.00-M), SM Fairview (P1.95-M) and Harbor Point (P1.73-M).

In the US, the web-slinger's latest tale debuted to a record-shattering $120-M in estimates, while the international box-office took a smash $140-M opening gross. That should give the film a $260 million global opening, if estimates hold.

Fans and critics alike heaped praises on Spider-Man: Homecoming with discussions on social media centering on the freshness of the filmmakers' approach to the reboot, the diversity of the cast which includes Fil-Am talent Jacob Batalon as Spidey's best buddy, and how Holland's portrayal is the “best depiction ever” of the young superhero.

It's also been mentioned by fans that Homecoming is the best movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), not only from the Spider-Man series.

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Embraced all over the world, Spider-Man is the most popular comic book character in history and the crown jewel of Marvel comics. Now, he comes home in a film with a fresh, fun tone and new take, produced by Marvel Studios, that brings the Peter Parker of the comic books to the screen alongside MCU heroes for the first time.

Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened. His moment has arrived as he is challenged to become the hero he is meant to be.