International Top Five - Holiday Escape
December 31, 2008
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa remained in first place over the weekend with $37.54 million on 6211 screens in 49 markets for a total of $285.35 million after two months of release. This includes no major openings over the weekend, but the holiday did boost the box office in a number of markets, including Italy where it was up 56% to $9.76 million on 583 screens over the weekend for a total of $21.18 million after two. Meanwhile in France the film was down just 6% to $5.11 million on 834 screens over the weekend for a total of $31.25 million after four. With openings in China, Poland, South Korea, and Japan ahead of the film, $400 million internationally and $600 million worldwide is within reach.
Australia expanded worldwide during the past week, which helps its weekend numbers climb to an estimated $26.1 million on 4500 screens in 51 markets for a total of $46.2 million. The film had a huge number of openings this past week, most of which did not go so well. For instance, it only managed third place in the U.K. with $1.88 million on 452 screens and just fifth place in Mexico with $944,000 on 369 screens over the weekend and $1.25 million in total. On the other hand, it did open first in Spain with $4.4 million on 510 screens and placed second during its opening in France with $4.37 million on 646 screens. Internationally it has already made more than it has domestically; however, for a film that cost $130 million to make ($78 million of that paid for by the studio, the rest by Australia) this is not an acceptable return on investment so far.
The Day the Earth Stood Still slipped to third place with an estimated $20.3 million on 6500 screens in 62 markets lifting its total to $100.6 million so far. It opened in second place in South Korea with $2.10 million on 554 screens over the weekend, however, including midweek numbers, the film has $5.84 million so far.
Estimated have Bedtime Stories earning fourth place with $13.5 million on 2002 screens in 15 markets. The film's biggest market was Germany where it pulled in $2.9 million on 516 screens, but it also did similar business in the U.K. ($2.26 million on 464 screens) and in Australia ($2 million on 271) and it reached seven digits in France with $1.14 million on 335 screens. This is much better than most Adam Sandler flicks do internationally, and it has a chance to become just the third film of his to reach $100 million on the international stage.
The holidays really helped Natale A Rio, as it more than doubled its weekend haul in Italy with $11.05 million on 598 screens for a total there of $21.88 million. Adding in Switzerland, and it has made $21.95 million after two weeks of release.
Filed under: International Box Office, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Bedtime Stories, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Australia