International Details - Revenge Remains Popular

December 20, 2009

The top five films on the international scene were published on Wednesday and can be found here.

Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard fell out of the top five, but still did relatively well, earning $8.14 million on 2,198 screens in 19 markets for an early total of $23.58 million. In its native France it added $6.27 million on 925 screens over the weekend for a total of $17.57 million after two. This is not that much weaker than the original, which at this point had made just over $20 million in France.

  • Zweiohrkuken, a.k.a. The Chicken With Two Ears, added $7.80 million on 746 screens in 3 markets for a total of $21.75 million. Of this, $18.77 million has come from Germany, including $6.83 million on 717 screens this past weekend. It has earned more after two weeks than the original, Keinohrhasen, a.k.a., No Ear Hare, earned, but that film showed better legs, growing by more than 65% during its second weekend of release, so there's little hope this movie will be as big a hit. That said, the original cost between 4 and 5 million Euros to make, so it is very likely that this movie has already made more than it cost to produce. Profitability is inevitable at this pace, even if the movie never expands outside of German-speaking markets.
  • Storm Warriors opened in Hong Kong and a few other markets and earned eighth place overall with $7.63 million on 923 screens in 4 markets.
  • Paranormal Activity fell to ninth place with $7.62 million on 2,002 screens in 27 markets for a total of $44.50 million after a month of international release. The film was hurt by no major market openings this past weekend, but it also tumbled in France, down close to 60% to $2.01 million on 244 screens over the weekend for a total of $7.17 million after two. It did the same in the U.K., falling from first to fourth, but it still managed $1.23 million on 399 screens over the weekend for a total of $14.12 million after three. So far the film has pulled in $151.98 million worldwide and depending on how well it does in its remaining major markets (Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Italy, etc.) it could reach $200 million.
  • The Princess and the Frog started its international run in tenth place with $7.29 million on 1,739 screens in 10 markets. This includes a first place opening in Mexico, but it only managed $1.34 million on 650 screens. It placed third in Germany with $2.76 million on 542 screens and fourth in Brazil with $870,000 on 201.
  • Up hit a major milestone this past weekend by pulling in $6.56 million on 1,835 screens in 23 markets for a total of $401.80 million internationally and $694.78 million worldwide. The film was pushed into second place in Japan, but was down just 17% to $5.89 million on 664 screens over the weekend for a total of $17.40 million after two. Given this result, it is likely the film has already reached $700 million worldwide, but we won't have official numbers until next week.
  • Planet 51 added $6.15 million on 2,924 screens in 28 markets to take its running tally to $35.69 million. Good news, it climbed a spot in the U.K. to third with $1.24 million on 421 screens over the weekend for a total of $4.12 million after two and it remained in second place in Spain with $1.66 million on 498 screens over the weekend for a total of $12.10 million after three. On the other hand, it bombed in Australia with just $581,000 on 201 screens over the weekend and $613,000 in total, which was only enough for seventh place.
  • Masked Rider W & Decade: Movie War 2010 opened in third place in Japan and 13th place internationally with $5.10 million on 292 screens.
  • Ci Ling, a.k.a., The Treasure Hunter, opened in first place in China and 14th place internationally with $4.68 million on 680 screens. The Taiwanese film stars Jay Chou and Lin Chi-ling and it is about time traveling lovers in the time of Genghis Khan. It will be interesting to see how well it can expand throughout Asia, and if it can open in other markets.
  • Law Abiding Citizen was a moderate hit in South Korea, opening in second place with $2.07 million on 344 screens over the weekend and $2.41 million in total. Overall it climbed a spot to 15th with $4.52 million on 1308 screens in 19 markets for a total of $25.05 million.
  • Old Dogs fell from ninth to 16th place with $3.57 million on 1,185 screens in 7 markets for a still early total of $13.12 million.
  • Ninja Assassin also saw steep declines, falling from 10th to 17th place with $2.98 million on 1,233 screens in 19 markets for a total of $17.23 million. The film struggled in Germany with just $405,000 on 157 screens, which is extra hard to take, as it was co-produced there.
  • R.T.T. opened 18th place with $2.84 million on 543 screens in France, which was enough for second place in its native market.
  • Cado Dalle Nubi remained in second place in Italy with $2.72 million on 414 screens over the weekend for a total of $16.80 million after three.
  • Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year felt like a bigger Indian release than most, as if expectations were higher than normal. I base this not on insider knowledge, as the Indian market is outside my normal realm, but on the fact that I saw ads for this movie online, which is unusual for these films. However, its opening weekend on the international scene was only mixed, as it debuted in 20th place with $2.62 million on 963 screens in 16 markets. It cost 5 crore Indian rupees to make, which works out to... hang on a second, I have to Google crore, again. Crore equal 10 million, so 5 crore is 50 million Indian rupees, which is $1.07 million, given today's exchange rate, which is on the low side for an Indian movie.
  • Where the Wild Things Are climbed to 21st place with $2.49 million on 766 screens in 3 markets for a total of $5.68 million. The film opened in second place in the U.K., but with just $1.43 million on 491 screens, so this was more of a result of weak competition than real strength in the film itself. It did remain in third place in Australia with $1.00 million on 263 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.11 million after two.
  • Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs fell out of the top twenty, landing in 22nd place with $2.30 million on 1,203 screens in 14 markets for a total of $72.19 million internationally and $194.84 million worldwide. Up next for the film is Italy, where it opens this Wednesday, while it has openings in South Korea, Germany, and other markets early next year.
  • Loup opened in 23rd place with $2.16 million on 530 screens in 3 markets, including France, where it managed third place with $2.08 million on 512 screens.
  • Zombieland opened in Germany with $534,000 on just 105 screens. Overall that was only enough for seventh place, but it did have the third best per screen average in the top twenty there. Overall it made $2.15 million on 734 screens in 30 markets for a total of $17.67 million. The odds of it matching its domestic run internationally are racing toward zero, but odds are it will still show a profit during its initial release on the home market, if not sooner.
  • Couples Retreat added $2.09 million on 791 screens in 36 markets for a total of $45.97 million internationally.
  • The Men Who Stare At Goats returned to the top 30 with $1.89 million on 501 screens in 4 markets for a total of $15.15 million. Almost all of its weekend haul came from Russia, where it was a surprise first place finisher, opening with $1.72 million on 367 screens.
  • Spanish Movie remained in first place in Spain with $1.81 million on 389 screens over the weekend. That was enough for 27th place internationally, while it lifted its total to $7.42 million after two weeks of release.
  • Saw VI fell from 19th to 28th with $1.74 million on 780 screens in 15 markets over the weekend and it now has $33.57 million in total.
  • Paa fell from 12th to 29th with $1.74 million on 659 screens in 15 markets for a total of $6.23 million. This sharp fall is sadly typical for Indian films, but it has already made more than it cost to make (roughly $4.3 million) and could become a relatively successful film, eventually.
  • The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest remained in the top 30, barely, with $1.71 million on 385 screens in 3 markets for a total of $13.99 million after three weeks of release. It won't live up to its two predecessors, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or The Girl Who Played with Fire, but with a reported budget of $16 million, more or less, it should still show a profit by the time it is done playing in Europe.

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Filed under: International Box Office, Up, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland, Where the Wild Things Are, Couples Retreat, Saw VI, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Paranormal Activity, Law Abiding Citizen, Ninja Assassin, Planet 51, Arthur et la vengeance de Maltazard, Old Dogs, The Princess and the Frog, Paa, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year