International Top Five - Earth Goes Global

December 17, 2008

The Day the Earth Stood Still opened globally over the weekend and took top spot on the international chart with $39.22 million on 7,715 screens in 90 markets. This is a good start, but not a great start and it appears to be heading for $150 million internationally and $250 million worldwide. Individual markets were led by Russia where the film made $5.89 million on 725 screens, but it was also a big hit in the U.K. ($4.21 million on 465 screens including previews); Spain ($3.21 million on 464 screens); and Italy ($2.35 million on 448). On the other hand, it had to settle for second place in France ($3.40 million on 606 screens); Germany ($2.95 million on 804 screens); and Mexico ($2.87 million on 804). The film has yet to open in a few major markets like Japan, South Korea, and Australia, and it opens in all three markets over the next few weeks.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa was pushed into second place, but still earned an impressive $34.32 million on 5,168 screens in 43 markets for a total of $173.78 million. The film remained in first place in Germany with $6.93 million on 833 screens over the weekend for a total of $20.17 million after two. It also repeated as champion at the box office in France with $6.39 million on 800 screens over the weekend and $16.62 million after two. Meanwhile it was down more than 60% during its second weekend in the U.K., but still added $3.62 million on 510 screens over the weekend for a total of $14.70 million after two.

Twilight grew by 12% to $11.87 million on 2,556 screens in 24 markets for a total of $55.47 million. This includes a first place, $3.56 million opening on 306 screens over the weekend in Australia, while the film now has $3.71 million in that market. Over in South Korea, it had to settle for second place with $2.17 million on 441 screens over the weekend and $2.82 million in total. Meanwhile it added $2.13 million on 471 screens during its second weekend in Spain for a total of $9.01 million.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi became the latest Indian film to chart well internationally as it placed fourth in its debut. With $8.42 million on 1,095 screens in 19 markets, it is safe to call this movie a blockbuster. In fact, it broke records in the United Arab Emirates for this type of film.

Quantum of Solace slipped to fifth place with $5.06 million on 3,892 screens in 66 markets for a total of $367.38 million internationally and $524.96 million worldwide. The film is now in 59th place worldwide and could become the highest grossing Bond film of all time, depending on how well it does in Japan when it opens there in January.

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Filed under: International Box Office, Twilight, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Quantum of Solace, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi