ABS-CBN Films and GMA Pictures’ romantic drama “Hello, Love, Again” achieved a milestone opening weekend of $2.4 million across North America, setting a new record for Philippines cinema in the territory.
The sequel to 2019’s “Hello, Love, Goodbye” surpassed expectations, with its opening weekend earnings already exceeding the entire North American run of its predecessor, which earned $1.99 million. Released by Abramorama in partnership with AJMC, the film secured the widest release ever for a Filipino production, playing in 248 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
The romance, which reunites stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, posted a strong per-screen average of $9,722. The film follows Joy (Bernardo) and Ethan (Richards) as they reconnect in Canada five years after parting ways in Hong Kong, navigating their changed lives and rekindling their relationship.
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, who also helmed the original film, “Hello, Love, Again” was written by Carmi Raymundo and Crystal S. San Miguel, based on a story they developed with Olivia Lamasan. The film was produced by Kookai Labayen, with executive producers Kriz Gazmen, Anette Valdes, and Carlo Katigbak.
Evan Saxon, president and head of international distribution at Abramorama, said: “‘Hello, Love, Again’ has made history as the highest-grossing film from the Philippines, with an unprecedented cinema rollout across North America, positioning it to become the highest-grossing Filipino film ever released in the region. Abramorama is proud to partner with ABS-CBN on this landmark release. Led by Joe Garel, who developed a data-driven distribution strategy, we achieved impressive grosses and per-screen averages, while highlighting to our exhibition partners the power of a vibrant audience they may have underestimated. This success underscores the immense potential for expanding cinema’s audiences through multicultural and event-driven content.”
“We are thrilled to share ‘Hello, Love, Again’ with U.S. and Canadian audiences,” said Kriz Gazmen, head of ABS-CBN Films. “The film’s themes of cultural pride, love, and personal growth have resonated deeply, making this release a significant milestone for us. The collaborative marketing efforts have helped bring this story to a diverse audience, further cementing its place as a cultural moment.”
“Hello, Love, Again,” ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and GMA Pictures’ first film collaboration, continues its streak at the box office, achieving a historic P245 million in ticket sales just three days after its release.
The film, starring Kapamilya actress Kathryn Bernardo and Kapuso actor Alden Richards, grossed over P90 million in ticket sales on its third day, Nov. 15, setting a new record as the highest single-day box-office gross for a Philippine film.
From 500 local cinemas on its opening day, “Hello, Love, Again” is now screening in 726 cinemas nationwide, the biggest reach in local film history. (N. Ramachandran , msn : Manila Times)