In what has to be one of the least surprising events of the year, Skyfall opened in first place on the international box office chart. It pulled in $83.05 million on 5,077 screens in 25 markets, this includes first place debuts in all 25 markets. It was surprisingly strong in its native U.K. with $32.41 million on 587 screens, which was the second best three-day opening in that market behind only Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. The film was also huge in France with $9.70 million on 820 screens and in Russia with $8.27 million on 1,254 screens. In South Korea, the film made $6.02 million on 749 screens and in Brazil it earned $3.18 million on 537 screens. The film was also a multi-million dollar hit in a number of smaller markets. This includes $3.58 million on 116 screens in Denmark, $3.13 million on 179 in Norway, $2.82 million on 222 in Sweden, and 2.49 million on 217 in Poland. On average, the film was 30% stronger than Quantum of Solace's opening weekends in these market, and 76% higher than Casino Royale.

Hotel Transylvania rose to second place with $18.41 million on 5,460 screens in 50 markets for a total of $91.56 million internationally. The film had second place debuts in a couple major markets earning $3.36 million on 622 screens in Spain and $2.58 million on 575 screens in Germany. The film also added $3.30 million on 850 screens over the weekend in Russia for a two-week total of $10.68 million. The film is already profitable and it has yet to open in Italy, France, and other markets.

Paranormal Activity 4 fell from first to third with $14.57 million on 4,420 screens in 45 markets for a still early total of $48.70 million. The film opened in more than a dozen markets, but of the smaller variety like the Netherlands, where it debuted in second place with $516,000 on 47 screens. The franchise is clearly off its peak domestically, but it is doing very well internationally.

The Bourne Legacy returned to the chart in fourth place with $13.2 million on 5,686 screens in 31 markets for a total of $140.23 million internationally and $253.23 million worldwide. The film earned first place in China with $12.7 million on 5,000 screens.

Taken 2 fell to fifth place with $12.39 million on 5,207 screens in 65 markets for totals of $202.03 million internationally and $319.13 million worldwide. The film had no major market openings this past weekend, but it is already profitable, so it doesn't need to worry about future openings.

Astérix And Obélix: God Save Britannia slipped a spot to sixth with $9.76 million on 3,352 screens in 22 markets for a total of $23.93 million. France remains the film's biggest market with $4.19 million on 763 screens over the weekend for a total of $13.11 million after just two weeks.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted landed in seventh place with $8.68 million on 2,994 screens in 31 markets for totals of $496.14 million internationally and $712.53 million worldwide. The film added $4.50 million on 541 screens in the U.K. for a total of $16.94 million after two weeks of release. The film is likely going to hit half a billion dollars internationally very early this weekend and there's little doubt that there will be yet another installment in the franchise.

Silent Hill: Revelation opened in eighth place with $6.53 million on 1,458 screens in 5 markets. The film opened in second place in Russia with $5.07 million on 840 screens, which is even more impressive given the competition. On the other hand, it really struggled in Mexico opening in fifth place with just $411,000 on 259 screens.

The Impossible slipped to ninth place with $5.78 million on 634 screens in Spain for a total of $34.18 million after just three weeks of release. To put this into perspective, The Avengers made just over $20 million here.

Ted rounded out the top ten with $5.4 million on 2,006 screens in 37 markets for totals of $270.88 million internationally and $489.51 million worldwide.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Date posted: 2012-11-01