'Hello, Love, Again' sets record for highest opening weekend for a Filipino film in the US
Hello, Love, Again has made waves in the United States, setting a significant record for a Filipino film.
According to Deadline, the romantic comedy starring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards set records by achieving impressive box-office numbers. It had the highest opening weekend for a Filipino film in the US, grossing $2.4 million or more than P140 million.
It has also landed the no. 8 spot, followed by Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain at no. 9 and the American romantic comedy-drama film Anora at 10th.
Moreover, the film also had the highest theater average of the weekend at $9.7K (P569,860). It was released in 248 locations across the US and Canada through Abramorama, in collaboration with AJMC (Amorette Jones Media Consulting).
ABS-CBN Films and GMA Pictures’ movie "saw strong turnout and engagement across key markets driven by a robust campaign by AJMC designed to engage core Filipino American audiences while broadening its appeal to Asian-American, Hispanic, and general moviegoers," said the media outlet.
It added, "The campaign leveraged the strong fan base of Bernardo and Richards, along with strategic partnerships with platforms like ABS-CBN’s TFC and Cinema One, creating a cohesive push across digital and social media."
Meanwhile, Hello, Love, Again also set a record in the country for the widest domestic release and earned P245 million in its first three days.
On Nov. 21, international screenings will also be held in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
The film, helmed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, is a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Hello, Love, Goodbye. It tells the story of two individuals, Joy (Bernardo) and Ethan (Richards), navigating love, loss, and new beginnings. It has resonated with audiences not only in the Philippines but also with the Filipino diaspora worldwide, contributing to its success in international markets like the US.