International Top Five - Monsters Fight Their Way to the Top
April 9, 2009
Monsters vs. Aliens expanded practically worldwide over the weekend climbing into first place with $33.47 million on 7707 screens in 49 markets for a still early total of $46.90 million. It opened in most major markets scoring first place in the U.K. with $6.47 million on 520 screens, as well as in Italy with $2.86 on 496 and in Australia with $2.77 million on 382. It finished in second place in Spain with $2.82 million on 538 screens and in Mexico with $2.00 million on 539 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.06 million. On the other hand, it struggled in France landing in third place with $2.15 million on 790 screens and was even weaker in Germany earning fifth place with $1.40 million on 699. In both markets its per screen average was well below expectations and dragged down its overall per screen average. Perhaps the films the movie is spoofing are just not well known enough to draw in audiences overseas. Or perhaps there are not enough 3-D theaters overseas to give its overall box office a big enough boost. Regardless, the film should reach $100 million internationally, which will be enough to give the film a profit, assuming the price tag was not completely irrational.
Fast and Furious opened in second place with $30.75 million on 3269 screens in 32 markets. The film showed major strength in Germany, which is no real surprise as that is the home of the Autobahn, and it topped the chart there with $6.13 million on 605 screens. It also placed first in Mexico with a still strong $3.64 million on 454 screens. On the other hand, it hit a speed bump in South Korea with $1.03 million on 334 screens over the weekend and $1.19 million in total, but that was still enough for second place there.
Knowing was mostly flat down just 3% to $9.13 million on 2024 screens in 18 markets for a total of $25.74 million. It was led by a second place, $3.17 million opening on 338 screens in France, while it added $1.44 million on 391 screens during its second weekend in the U.K. for a total there of $6.35 million after two.
Slumdog Millionaire was only down 15%, but it still fell from first to fourth with $8.19 million on 3122 screens in 53 markets for a total of $188.95 million internationally and $329.30 million worldwide. Its best market of the weekend was Germany, where it added $1.57 million on 359 screens over the weekend for a total of $8.05 million after three. It might have made more in China, but numbers were not yet released.
Taras Bulba opened in first place in Russia with $6.39 million on 648 screens, while it also earned first in Ukraine with $686,000 on 90 screens. Combined it made $7.08 million on 738 screens in 2 markets, which was enough for fifth place on the international chart.
Filed under: International Box Office, Monsters vs. Aliens, Fast & Furious, Slumdog Millionaire, Knowing