International Top Five - Millionaire Nears Century Mark

March 4, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire nearly doubled its weekend haul thanks to its Oscar wins, and a bit of expansion. For instance, the film opened in second place in Poland with $536,000 on 60 screens over the weekend for a total of $662,000. In the U.K. it rose from third into first place with $2.38 million on 447 screens over the weekend for a total of $36.74 million. Over in Spain it added $2.21 million on 250 screens, which was also enough for first place, while it has now made $6.00 million after three weeks of release. Overall the film made $16.94 million on 2,915 screens in 37 markets for a total of $99.71 million and will have reached the $100 million mark on Monday.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button slipped to second place with a still impressive $14.13 million on 4,987 screens in 56 markets for a total of $175.93 million internationally and $301.32 million worldwide. In France, the film added $1.82 million on 584 screens over the weekend for a total of $17.12 million after four. It also earned more than $1 million in Italy, where it added $1.86 million on 451 screens to its total of $11.32 million after three weeks of release. Other million dollar markets include Japan ($1.58 million on 352 screens over the weekend and $19.18 million after four); Spain ($1.36 million on 449 screens over the weekend and $13.34 million after four); and Germany ($1.16 million on 585 screens over the week and $17.57 million after five). With no new markets left to open in, the film will see declines over the coming weeks, as it fades from the international marketplace. However, it's just a matter of time before it tops Se7en as David Fincher's biggest hit worldwide.

Gran Torino made its first appearance on the international charts in third place with $10.04 million on 1,091 screens in 10 markets for a total of $18.75 million. Its best opening came in France where it opened in first place with a stunning $5.48 million on 422 screens. It expanded wide in the U.K. and captured second place with $1.92 million on 303 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.04 million after two. In both cases, the film was able to earn record results for a Clint Eastwood movie, both in his acting and directing careers.

Bolt is coasting on holdovers until it opens in Japan in August, which explains while it fell from second to fourth over the weekend. In France it added $2.50 million on 702 screens over the weekend for a total of $18.63 million after 4 weeks of release. In the U.K., it added $1.84 million on 570 screens over the weekend for a total of $21.97 million after three weeks of release. Overall the film pulled in $7.62 million on 3,089 screens in 34 markets for a total of $166.22 million internationally and $280.27 million worldwide.

Valkyrie remained in fifth place with $6.75 million on 3,421 screens in 40 markets for a total of $94.07 million. This was aided by a first place opening in China with $3.65 million on 800 screens, which was its only market of note over the weekend.

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Filed under: International Box Office, Gran Torino, Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bolt, Valkyrie