• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • FMTV on YouTube
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Bluesky
    • Linktree
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • The Baby in the Basket
  • Death Among the Pines

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu scores biggest video game movie opening ever

May 13, 2019 by Gary Collinson

It may have failed to unseat Avengers: Endgame from the top of the box office charts, but Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures’ Pokemon: Detective Pikachu still enjoyed a very healthy opening this past weekend.

Domestically, Detective Pikachu earned $58 million, topping the $47.7 million opening for 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider to score the biggest opening weekend for a movie based upon a video game property.

Internationally, the Ryan Reynolds-headlined film has grossed a further $112.4 million for a worldwide total of $170.4 million, which puts it ahead of the five theatrically released animated Pokemon movies, the biggest of which was 1999’s Pokemon: The First Movie ($163.6 million).

SEE ALSO: Read our Pokemon: Detective Pikachu review here

The highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time is 2016’s Warcraft, which – despite bombing in North America – amassed a global haul of $433.7 million. Whether Detective Pikachu goes on to top that, we shall have to wait and see…

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu sees Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool 2) starring in the title role alongside Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies), Suki Waterhouse (The Bad Batch), Ken Watanabe (Godzilla), Bill Nighy (The Limehouse Golem), Rita Ora (Fifty Shades Freed) and Chris Geere (Modern Family).

Originally published May 13, 2019. Updated May 14, 2019.

Filed Under: Gary Collinson, Movies, News, Video Games Tagged With: pokemon, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

About Gary Collinson

Gary Collinson is a film, TV and digital content producer and writer who is the Editor-in-Chief of the pop culture website Flickering Myth and producer of the gothic horror feature 'The Baby in the Basket' and suspense thriller 'Death Among the Pines'.

WATCH OUR NEW FILM FOR FREE ON TUBI

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

8 Creepy Neighbor Movies for Your Watchlist

The Return of Cameron Diaz: Her Best Movies Worth Revisiting

7 Underappreciated Final Girls in Horror

Cinema of Violence: 10 Great Hong Kong Movies of the 1980s

MTV Generation-Era Comedies That Need New Sequels

Must-See Modern Horror Movies You Might Have Missed

10 Essential DC Movies

The Essential Horror Movie Threequels

Chilling Stranded-in-the-Snow Movies for Your Watchlist

A Better Tomorrow: Why Superman & Lois is among the best representations of the Man of Steel

Top Stories:

The Essential Bruce Campbell Movies

Blu-ray Review – The Devil’s Hand (1943)

12 Erotically Charged Thrillers For Your Watchlist

The Worst Omissions in the 2026 Oscar Nominations

Movie Review – The Gates (2026)

Movie Review – Undertone (2026)

Movie Review – Heel (2025)

Movie Review – Project Hail Mary (2026)

Is the King of Action Back? Arnold’s Triumphant Return to Conan, Commando and Predator

Movie Review – Slanted (2026)

FLICKERING MYTH FILMS

 

FEATURED POSTS:

The Essential Pamela Anderson Movies

10 Must-See Boxing Movies That Pack a Punch

Overlooked Horror Actors and Their Best Performance

7 Sci-Fi Horror Movie Hidden Gems You Have To See

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • FMTV on YouTube
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Bluesky
    • Linktree
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles and Opinions
  • The Baby in the Basket
  • Death Among the Pines
  • About Flickering Myth
  • Write for Flickering Myth