Kung Fu Panda 3 is hitting theaters, and families wondering if there is an after-credits scene are taking to the internet to find out if it's worth keeping the kids in the seats until the bitter end.
The DreamWorks series has been known for adding a little extra to reward fans who wait until the end, with some after-credits scenes giving an extra laugh.
The latest movie in the series focuses on Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) retiring and passing along the role of teacher to Po (Jack Black). He reunites with his long-lost father, but along the way has to battle against the evil and powerful Kai (J.K. Simmons).
Like the first two movies in the Kung Fu Panda series, it's a mix of good-hearted family fun and a bit of cartoonish action (a full review can be found here[1]).
There's reason for fans to hope for a scene after the movie ends. When the first Kung Fu Panda movie hit the theaters in 2008, the studio added a short but poignant scene at the end showing Po eating a bowl of rice while overlooking the landscape.
But the next installation of the series had no such reward for fans, as 2011 movie Kung Fu Panda 2 didn't include an after-credits scene. So with a lack of consistency from DreamWorks, many people are turning online to see if Kung Fu Panda 3 has an after-credits scene.
The answer may be disappointing. This time DreamWorks has not added an after-credits scene, so Kung Fu Panda 3 is over in a terse 95 minutes.
After-credits scene or not, box office experts are looking to big things from Kung Fu Panda 3. The third edition of the popular DreamWorks series is expected to have a very strong weekend, with experts saying it will knock the Oscar favorite The Revenant out of the No. 1 spot for box office totals.
The Los Angeles Times[2] reported,
"'Kung Fu Panda 3' could gross $45 million or more in ticket sales Friday through Sunday in the U.S. and Canada, according to people who have reviewed pre-release audience surveys. Movie studio 20th Century Fox, which is distributing the computer-animated action-comedy, is projecting an opening of about $35 million.
"If "Kung Fu Panda 3″ does as well as box-office analysts hope, it would be a welcome success for DreamWorks Animation after the Glendale company's recent struggles at the box office. It had a hit last year in 'Home' but has otherwise had trouble producing commercial winners."
The report noted that much of the movie's revenue is to come from China, where it is also opening on Friday with a Mandarin version. The movie was co-produced by Oriental DreamWorks, which the Los Angeles Times noted is a $330 million venture. In fact, the movie has already generated $6.4 million in sales just for limited screenings last Saturday.
"Kung Fu Panda 3" started its run in China with a bang, earning $16.3M on its first day https://t.co/SRWOPXFiWq pic.twitter.com/uF0hi8p3Xa[3][4]
— Forbes (@Forbes) January 29, 2016[5]
#KungFuPanda3 dominating U.S. box office, aiming for $44 million weekend https://t.co/lc5b7LU6IO pic.twitter.com/WwNbrDgu2E[6][7][8]
— Variety (@Variety) January 29, 2016[9]
So while Kung Fu Panda 3 may not have an after-credits scene, there is a good chance that fans will see more of Po in the years to come. With a box office gross expected to be high and the movie attracting fans both in the United States and China, the chances of a fourth installment in the series are high.
[Image via YouTube[10]/DreamWorks]
References
- ^ here (www.inquisitr.com)
- ^ Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com)
- ^ https://t.co/SRWOPXFiWq (t.co)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/uF0hi8p3Xa (t.co)
- ^ January 29, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ #KungFuPanda3 (twitter.com)
- ^ https://t.co/lc5b7LU6IO (t.co)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/WwNbrDgu2E (t.co)
- ^ January 29, 2016 (twitter.com)
- ^ YouTube (www.youtube.com)
