International Details - Sex not as Popular with International Audiences

June 8, 2008

Sex and the City made its international debut this past weekend, and while it wasn't able to top the charts like it did domestically, it still managed a fantastic $32.77 million on 3590 screens in 14 markets over the weekend for a total of $37.52 million. Its biggest opening came in the U.K. where it dominated the market with $17.22 million on 460 screens, which is equivalent to an $80 million to $100 million opening here. It also finished first in Germany with $7.41 million on 836 screens. It also did very well in France with $6.12 million on 551 screens and in Italy with $2.74 million on 552 screens, finishing second in both markets. The film opened in Australia and South Korea this past weekend, while it doesn't end its run till late August with Japan and it should reach several major milestones before then.

  • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian added half-a-dozen more markets over the weekend, which helped it dip a mere 2% at the international box office. New openings include Brazil where it earned $2.26 million on 508 screens, Poland with $1.60 million on 188 screens, and Thailand with $1.48 million on 216 screens. In all three markets it finished in first place. Meanwhile in Japan, it remained in first place with $4.39 million on 781 screens over the weekend and $15.03 million in total. Overall Prince Caspian landed in third place with $17.91 million on 4507 screens in 19 markets over the weekend and $74.18 million in total. And with a more graduated release schedule, it will remain on the charts for a long, long time.
  • Whap Happens in Vegas... came within less than a rounding error of first place in Mexico with $2.08 million on 507 screens over the weekend and $2.10 million in total. It was not as competitive in South Korea but scored second place nonetheless with $1.66 million on 346 screens over the weekend and $1.94 million in total. Overall the film made $13.03 million on 4153 screens in 61 markets for a total of $95.73 million over the weekend. It has likely reached $100 million internationally already and it screaming towards $200 million worldwide. This is an amazing feat for a romantic comedy, as they are rarely monster hits.
  • Iron Man is coasting on holdovers at the moment, as it rounded out the top five with $7.19 million on 4315 screens in 54 markets for a total of $241.93 million internationally and $518.09 million worldwide. The movie finishes its run in Japan, but it won't open there till September, and it is just a matter of how much money it will make in the meantime.
  • Made of Honour grew by 22% but still slipped to sixth place with $4.05 million on 1769 screens in 24 markets for a total of $30.81 million after a month of release. Much of that came from the film's Spanish debut where it placed second with $2.14 million on 329 screens, which is better than most openings in its past. With a little luck, it could end up with $100 million worldwide, which is reasonable for this type of film.
  • 21 opened in Japan with $1.05 million on 205 screens, but that was only enough for 5th place and will likely not be enough to secure long legs in that market. Overall the move made $3.12 million on 1228 screens in 44 markets for a total of $53.27 million.
  • Speed Racer added $2.76 million on 2333 screens in 36 markets for a total of $34.76 million. This includes a third place opening in Russia with $960,000 on 436 screens, but that's still disappointing, but at least it is not catastrophic.
  • Partners: The Movie remained in second place in Japan with $1.85 million on 302 screens over te weekend for a total of $34.32 million.
  • Il Divo opened in Italy in third place with $1.71 million on 338 screens over the weekend for a total of $2.09 million, which was enough for 10th place internationally.
  • Fellow Italian flick, Gomorrah, was right behind with a nearly identical $1.71 million on 383 screens over the weekend for a total of $11.18 million after three.
  • Cyborg She debuted in third place in Japan and 12th internationally with $1.68 million on 293 screens over the weekend and $1.71 million in total.
  • 88 Minutes returned to the charts in 13th place with $1.57 million on 554 screens in 8 markets for a total of just $10.30 million. This past weekend the film opened in fourth place in South Korea with $924,000 on 257 screens over the weekend and $1.06 million in total, which is better than average for the film.
  • It is rare for a film from the Philippines to reach the charts, but that's exactly what Caregiver managed over the weekend. It managed this feat thanks to a first place opening in its native market with $1.44 million on just 70 screens, giving the film the best per screen average on this week's list.
  • Superhero Movie slipped a spot to 15th with $1.39 million on 603 screens in 12 markets for a totalof $21.91 million. This includes a fourth place, $785,000 opening on 298 screens in Mexico.
  • The Mist opened in Spain but was not impressive with just $1.11 million on 272 screens over the weekend and $1.20 million in total. Adding in holdovers, and the film made $1.33 million on 438 screens in 8 markets for a total of $22.54 million, which is close to how much it made domestically.
  • Rambo is just wrapping up its run and is likely making its last appearance on this chart. Over the weekend it made $1.22 million on 304 screens in Japan for a total of $5.06 million in that market and $67.00 million in total.
  • Fool's Gold returned to the charts thanks to a $1 million opening in China, however, exact numbers are not known. Overall the film made $1.17 million on 673 screens in 19 markets for a total of $38.37 million with no major or midlevel markets left to debut in.
  • The Forbidden Kingdom also returned to the charts earning $1.16 million on 511 screens in 12 markets for a total of $52.26 screens. It will start making its European push in earnest now.
  • 27 Dresses opened in seventh place in Japan with just $877,000 on 201 screens, however, that was enough to lift the film into 20th place with $1.06 million on 311 screens in 7 markets for a total of $79.38 million.
  • A Christmas Tale was the final film to crack $1 million as it took in $1.02 million on 190 screens in 2 markets for a total of $2.38 million. Most of that came from France.
Welcome to the Sticks has made $203.74 million internationally, including $634,000 on 466 screens this past weekend. This includes $183.12 million from France, which was earned from 20.14 million in ticket sales. As it has for the past few weeks, the film is trending below Titanic's record of 20.64 million tickets sold, but perhaps the distributor will give it a push to get it over the top.


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Filed under: International Box Office, Iron Man, Sex and the City, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, What Happens in Vegas..., Fool’s Gold, The Forbidden Kingdom, Made of Honor, Speed Racer, Rambo, Superhero Movie, The Mist, 88 Minutes, Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, Un conte de Noël, Il Divo, Caregiver, Boku no kanojo wa saibôgu, Partners: The Movie, 21, 27 Dresses