International Top Five - Founding Still Strong

September 30, 2009

The Founding Of A Republic remained in first place down just 26% to $13.56 million on 1,380 screens over the weekend for a total of $36.16 million after two. This film is performing amazingly in China and while it nationalistic story (it is about the rise of the communist party in China) will hurt its chances elsewhere, it's already made enough money to be considered a success.

Surrogates opened in second place with $11.98 million on 1,850 screens in 10 markets for an early total of $12.24 million. Good news, the film opened in first place in Russia with $5.28 million on 630 screens. Bad news, it opened in third place in both the U.K. with just $1.40 million on 356 screens and in Australia with $1.31 million on 206. It was middle of the road in Spain earning second place with $1.95 million on 320 screens. If Russia is indicative of the film's performances elsewhere, it could make more than $100 million internationally. If the U.K. and Australia are more indicative, then it could fail to make $100 million worldwide.

Up slipped to third place with $11.54 million on 3,388 screens in 31 markets for a total of $214.43 million internationally and $506.59 million worldwide. The film has hit two major milestones: $200 million internationally and $500 million worldwide. It had no major market openings this past week but it did finish in second place in Norway with $750,000 on 107 screens over the weekend and $1.02 million in total. Meanwhile it rose to first place in Germany with $3.97 million on 814 screens over the weekend and it now has $10.47 million after two. The film continued to lead the way in Australia with $3.01 million on 431 screens for a total of $13.33 million after two. School holidays have started there, so I suspect it will continue to pull in big bucks next week as well. The next major market opening for Up is the U.K., but it doesn't open there until the 9th of October. When it does, we will have a clearer picture with regards to its chances of reaching $300 million internationally and $600 million worldwide.

Inglourious Basterds added $8.34 million on 2,572 screens in 41 markets for a total of $129.84 million internationally and $244.26 million worldwide. This week saw the film added $2.74 million on 477 screens in Spain for a total of $8.65 million after two. Next up is Italy this weekend, and when it opens there, it should easily top $250 million worldwide — the first time in Quentin Tarantino's career that will have happened.

Fame opened in fifth place with $6.98 million on 1,168 screens in 8 markets for an early total of $7.20 million. The film opened in three major markets, including the U.K. where it opened in first place with $3.52 million on 459 screens, which is better than it opened in the US, if you take into account the relative size of the two markets. It was also strong in Australia with $1.49 million on 227 screens and second place. Meanwhile in South Korea, the film placed third with $1.12 million on 393 screens over the weekend and $1.34 million in total.

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Filed under: International Box Office, Up, Inglourious Basterds, Surrogates, Fame