International Box Office: Smurfy Way to Start September
September 8, 2011
The Smurfs started September the same way they ended August, on top of the international chart. Over the weekend the film earned $25.09 million on 8,318 screens in 78 markets for totals of $297.72 million internationally and $429.77 million worldwide. The film opened in first place in the United Arab Emirates with $1.9 million on 37 screens, which was the second best opening in the market this year, behind only Pirates of Caribbean on Stranger Tides. It also earned first place in Sweden with $1.11 million on 128 screens and second place in Norway with $1.05 million on 132. Given its surprising strength over the weekend, getting to $500 million worldwide has become more of a reality.
Bodyguard debuted in second place with $23.84 million on 2,692 screens in 16 markets over the weekend for a total opening of $35.45 million. It broke records in its native India before the weekend and earned $1.7 million in U.A.E. and $1.35 million on 51 screens in the U.K.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes fell to third place with $20.35 million on 6,241 screens in 52 markets for a total of $187.74 million internationally and $347.88 million worldwide. The film dominated in Mexico with $4.17 million on 1,495 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $4.92 million.
Final Destination 5 expanded significantly, but slipped to fourth place with $19.02 million on 4,296 screens in 35 markets for a total of $60.94 million. It opened in first place in France with $3.79 million on 360 screens over the weekend. Meanwhile it remained in first place in Russia with $3.56 million on 1,056 screens over the weekend for a total of $14.82 million after two.
That's it for a $10 million movies during a relatively slow weekend, but there were a few other smaller notes. For instance, Cars 2 hit $350 million internationally. The Inbetweeners Movie topped $50 million in its native U.K.. Finally, Japan overtook the U.K. as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2's biggest market, $119.54 million to $115.90 million.
Filed under: International Box Office, The Smurfs, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, Cars 2, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Final Destination 5, Bodyguard