Japan was a major player on the international charts this past weekend, placing three films in the top 30, and helping a couple others as well. Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser placed first in its native market, and sixth internationally, with $6.00 million on 341 screens.

• Red Cliff: Part II was second place in Japan and seventh place internationally with $5.73 million on 728 screens during its second weekend in that market for a total of $21.73 million. Internationally it placed seventh despite playing in just the one market, but it has amassed $84.93 million so far, and it has yet to play outside of Asia.
• A fifth place opening in Japan with $1.18 million on just 119 screens helped Slumdog Millionaire remain in the top ten one more weekend. Overall it managed $5.64 million on 2643 screens in 45 markets for a total of $207.69 million internationally and $348.71 million worldwide. That's it as far as the international marketplace in concerned, but legs will help it remain on the charts for a few more weeks at least.
• Race to Witch Mountain climbed a spot to ninth with $5.63 million on 2496 screens in 28 markets for a total of $24.52 million. Its biggest opening of the weekend came in Spain where it placed a very, very close second with $1.84 million on 300 screens, which is one of its best openings internationally. It was also down just 19% to $685,000 on 412 screens in the U.K. for a total of $2.78 million. If the film can reach $100 million worldwide, I think the studio will be happy with its run. I don't think they will be itching to make a sequel, but at least they will make a profit.
• 17 Again remained in the top ten, barely, with $5.15 million on 818 screens in 9 markets for a total of $18.37 million. The film opened in a number of markets, but they were of the smaller variety. For instance, the film managed third place in New Zealand with $235,000 on 43 screens. It did hold well in Australia down just 24% to $1.70 million on 223 screens over the weekend for a total of $5.79 million, while in the U.K. is was down 31% to $2.59 million on 410 screens over the weekend for a total of $11.08 million after two. The film placed third in both of those markets.
• Dragonball: Evolution had the worst week-to-week performance in the top 30 down 64% while falling from fourth to eleventh. Over the weekend it added $3.73 million on 4200 screens in 40 markets for a total of $43.92 million. The film's only opening of note came from Poland where it managed fifth place with just $108,000 on 50 screens. Holdovers ranged from disappointing (down 50% in Australia) to catastrophic (down 84% in the U.K.). At least it's a huge hit internationally compared to its domestic run.
• Gran Torino crossed $100 million internationally with $3.63 million on 1983 screens in 37 markets over the weekend for a total of $100.65 million after three months. This weekend it opens in Japan, but that's the last market of note for the film. That said, it is still a huge hit, one of the biggest in Clint Eastwood's career of acting or directing.
• Crows Zero 2 fell 39% during its second weekend in Japan, which is a little high for that market, but it still added $3.47 million on 314 screens for a total of $13.42 million. That was enough for third place in that market, and 13th place internationally.
• Safari slipped a spot to third in France with $2.44 million on 572 screens over the weekend and $11.68 million after three. Internationally it place 14th with $2.89 million on 567 screens in 3 markets for a total of $13.77 million.
• The Boat That Rocked remained in 15th place with $2.86 million on 1622 screens in 13 markets for a total of $11.93 million. The film struggled during its debut in Germany with $818,000 on 497 screens, which was only enough for seventh place there. It was able to earn sixth place during its third weekend of release in the U.K. adding $729,000 on 439 screens for a total of $7.06 million in its native market. Meanwhile in Australia is placed fifth with $732,000 on 291 screens over the weekend for a total of $2.45 million.
• In The Electric Mist started its international run with $2.38 million on 225 screens in 2 markets, including a fourth place, $2.07 million opening on 219 screens in France. The film went direct-to-DVD here, but this result suggests it had box office potential.
• Despite no major openings, Paul Blart: Mall Cop remained strong with $2.31 million on 1288 screens in 17 markets for a total of $28.70 million.
• Marley & Me is coasting on holdovers added $2.03 million on 1562 screens in 17 markets for a total of $96.05 million. This makes hitting $100 million internationally a lot more likely.
• State Of Play made its debut on the international chart in 19th place with $1.98 million on 386 screens in 4 markets. Its only major market debut came in Spain where it placed first with $1.86 million on 322 screens.
• Duplicity fell to 20th place with $1.91 million on 1218 screens in 24 markets for a total of $24.52 million after a month of release. The film opened in South Korea but only managed 10th place with $130,000 on 155 screens over the weekend and $156,000 in total. It added $605,000 on 203 screens in Italy for a total of $2.09 million after two.
• La Première Etoile climbed a spot to 21st with $1.87 million on 360 screens in 2 markets for a total of $11.03 million. Of that, $1.63 million was earned on 350 screens in France and the film now has $9.69 million in total.
• Crayon Shin-chan: Otakebe! Kasukabe Yasei Oukoku opened in fourth place in Japan and 22nd place internationally with $1.69 million on 323 screens over the weekend, which puts it just above the $5000 per screen average that is usually so key for that market.
• Taras Bulba more than 50% and 10 spots to 23rd with $1.68 million on 653 screens in 2 markets for a total of $16.14 million. In Russia, it managed third place with $1.58 million on 563 screens over the weekend for a total of $14.49 million after three.
• I Love You, Man made its international debut in 24th place with $1.70 million on 370 screens in 2 markets. Of this, $1.64 million was earned on 336 screens in the U.K., which was enough for fourth place in that market.
• Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea added $1.52 million on 305 screens in 4 markets for a total of $181.55 million. The film earned eighth place in France with $1.35 million on 258 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.22 million after two.
• The Haunting in Connecticut returned to the international chart in 26th place with $1.35 million on 728 screens in 4 markets for a total of $6.80 million. The film was aided by a $651,000, third place opening on 300 screens in Mexico.
• The Reader added $1.31 million on 1021 screens in 27 markets for a total of $53.61 million.
• Bank Error In Your Favour placed ninth in France and 29th internationally with $1.29 million on 399 screens over the weekend for a total of $4.03 million.
• Private Eye slipped to second in South Korea while it fell to 29th place internationally with $1.16 million on 305 screens over the weekend for a total of $7.58 million after three.
• He's Just Not That Into You fell 30th place with $1.15 million on 726 screens in 19 markets for a total of $67.82 million. The Netherlands helped it remain in the top 30 one more week, as it placed second there with $276,000 on 85 screens over the weekend and $439,000 in total.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2009-04-26