Potter Piles on the Pounds (and Euros and Yuan and Krone...)
November 23, 2005
In a result that surprised no one, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire topped the international charts with a fantastic $85.5 million on 4,268 screens in just 16 markets, which was more than the rest of the top 30 combined.
This isn't quite as big an opening as Prisoner of Azkaban's $87.2 million, but that film opened in more markets and on more screens, giving Goblet of Fire a significant advantage when it comes to long-term potential.
The film was first in every one of its markets, and even set records in many of them, including the U.K., where it earned $25.6 million on 535 screens for the best 3-day weekend ever.
In Germany, it made $21.68 million on 1,243 screens, breaking the record for biggest 4-day weekend, while in Denmark its opening was $2.85 million on 97 screens for the best 3-day weekend.
It just missed setting records in Taiwan, where it earned $3.5 million on 184 screens, the second biggest opening there behind just Kung Fu Hustle, and it had the third best opening in Mexico with $6.8 million on 654 screens.
Other key markets included China, at $3.4 million on 349 screens, Austria, with $2.5 million on 173, Norway, with $2.38 million on 109, Sweden, also with $2.38 million on 168, and Thailand, with $2 million on 218.
Next week Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will open in several more major markets including Japan, Italy, and Spain, while it should have million dollar openings in Brazil, Argentina, and others.
Flightplan's reign on top of the international charts was a short one, as it was pushed into second place by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Even so, its $10.1 million weekend on 3,199 screens in 43 markets does lift its international total to $74.2 million so far.
The film had no major openings, but did earn more than $1 million in Spain ($1.6 million on 303 screens); France ($1.4 million on 322) and in Australia ($1.0 million on 314).
The film has yet to open in the U.K., and when it does its performance there will go a long way in determining whether or not the film will reach $200 million worldwide; I would wager that it does.
Chicken Little continues to climb the charts, reaching third place this weekend with $7.1 million on 1,968 screens in 18 markets for an international total of $25.0 million so far. The film opened first in Spain with $2.78 million on 392 screens, but it had to settle for second place in the Netherlands with $363,000 on 113 screens over the weekend and $440,000 overall.
Its best market so far is still Mexico, where the film added $1.20 million from 660 screens to its running tally of $9 million.
In Her Shoes added two major markets to its run this weekend, but mediocre results left the film flat with $6.6 million on 2,321 screens in 22 markets for a $23.6 million run so far.
The film opened in fourth place in Spain with $880,000, on 289 screens and sixth place in France with $840,000 on 315 screens.
Holdovers were generally better, with a 35% decline during its second weekend in the U.K. for a second place, $1.48 million weekend and a $4.93 million run, while in Germany it was down 29% to $1.27 million on 416 screens for a $3.60 million run.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose climbed into the top five with $6.25 million on 1,565 screens in 31 markets for a $22.0 million international box office.
Its best market of the weekend was Spain where it earned $2.34 million on 325 screens, but the fact that it had to settle for second place in a market that is not only 94% Catholic, but also a major consumer of horror films is a bit of a disappointment.
Meanwhile in Mexico, the film added $1.2 million on 345 screens to its $4.45 million running tally there.
Filed under: International Box Office, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chicken Little, Flightplan, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, In Her Shoes