International Details: Shrek's Expansion is Taking Forever

July 11, 2010

The top film on the international scene was published on Wednesday and can be found here.

In an age of day-and-date global releases, Shrek Forever After is taking the slow route. This week it opened in a number of major markets, which propelled it into second place with $42.57 million on 4,484 screens in 25 markets for a total of $137.12 million internationally and $369.40 million worldwide. In the U.K. it opened with $13.56 million on 539 screens, which was easily enough for first place. However, its predecessor made $33.45 million during its opening three years ago. Ouch. In France it made $10.77 million on 842 screens, down from $13.05 million. South Korea produced $6.37 million on 627 screens, including midweek numbers, down from $10.74 million. Finally, in Germany it made $5.11 million on 767 screens, down from $7.84 million. The film is still a major hit and will have no trouble earning a profit; however, it is still the weakest in the franchise when you look at ticket sales.

  • Toy Story 3 fell to third place with $31.00 million on 5845 screens in 35 markets over the weekend for a total of $160.63 million after three. So far it has made $449.74 million worldwide, which is almost enough to make it the biggest hit of the franchise after just three weeks of release, while it is quickly climbing the all-time Pixar chart. This past weekend the film added $6.12 million on 1090 screens in Mexico for a total of $44.61 million, making it the biggest animated film of all time in that market. It also made $5.41 million during its second weekend in Australia for an early total of $16 million, which is a substantial increase from Finding Nemo's total at the same point in its run. Looking forward, since it is playing in barely a third of international markets, $500 million internationally is a solid goal, while $1 billion worldwide is not out of the question.
  • Bayside Shakedown 3 opened in first place in Japan and fourth place internationally with an outstanding debut of $11.08 million on 447 screens. If the film has the same long logs most releases in this market have, it could remain on the chart for a long time.
  • Knight and Day fell to fifth place, but the lack of major market openings was a mitigating factor. Over the weekend it added $8.02 million on 2240 screens in 25 markets for a still early total of $25.02 million. It may have disappointed domestically, but it is well on its way to having a respectable outing internationally, and perhaps making enough to show a profit sooner rather than later. Although I could be accused of damning it with faint praise, an accusation that does have merit.
  • I Hate Luv Storys debuted in India and more than a few other markets internationally placing sixth with $7.37 million on 1044 screens in 18 markets. It will likely collapse next weekend, as most Indian films do, but this is a fantastic start.
  • Triple Tap opened in Hong Kong and China earning $5.31 million on 454 screens in total.
  • The Karate Kid added $3.82 million on 1131 screens in 25 markets for a total of $31.02 million after four weeks of release. It opened in Australia this weekend and opens in the U.K. next weekend. At that time, we will have a better understanding of its long-term potential; however, it is already a profitable film.
  • The A-Team added $3.77 million on 2888 screens in 45 markets for a total of $54.54 million internationally and $123.82 million worldwide. The film has a handful of major markets left to open in, and if it can score there, it might be able to recover its costs early in its home market run. That's a big if.
  • Sex and the City 2 was right behind with $3.77 million on 3801 screens in 55 markets for a total of $187.53 million internationally and $281.60 million worldwide.
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time fell out of the top ten with $3.49 million on 4700 screens in 48 markets for a total of $233.29 million internationally and $321.44 million worldwide. I think it is fair to say the film flopped domestically, but it is at least a respectable hit internationally. If only the price-tag was reasonable, then the studio would have been happy with this result.
  • Killers fell out of the top ten, again, with $2.56 million on 1320 screens in 23 markets for a total of $21.12 million. The film isn't done its international run just yet, but it is rapidly running out of places to turn its fortunes around.
  • Get Him To The Greek added $2.51 million on 699 screens in 10 markets over the weekend for a total of $14.77 million after a month of release. On the one hand, it has barely started its international run. On the other hand, this film likely won't be a big hit internationally, or even a moderate hit.
  • Confessions was pushed into second place in Japan with $2.48 million on 266 screens over the weekend for a total of $30.87 million after a month of release.
  • Welcome to Shama Town added $2.36 million on 370 screens in China for a total o $6.91 million after two weeks of release in its native market.
  • Man of Vendetta opened in third place in South Korea and 16th place internationally with $2.21 million on 374 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $2.69 million.
  • 71: Into the Fire was pushed into fourth place in South Korea, but still added $2.12 million on 445 screens over the weekend for a total of $14.49 million after four.
Robin Hood slipped below the $2 million mark, but it was reported that it crossed $200 million internationally since last week.


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Filed under: International Box Office, Sex and the City 2, The A-Team, Killers, Shrek Forever After, The Karate Kid, Get Him to the Greek, Robin Hood, Toy Story 3, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Knight and Day