Around the World Round Up: 'Closer' Cranks Up as 'Alexander' Crosses $100M
Closer enjoyed a strong turnout over the weekend, raking in $12.9 million overall at 2,066 screens in 21 territories, but came in second internationally to Ocean's Twelve's $14.4 million from 4,612 prints in 58 countries.

Lifting $170.4 million overall, Ocean's Twelve surged 49% from the previous weekend, thanks primarily to a superb start in Japan—where it grossed $5.4 million from 510 screens in its opening two days. Including a one day sneak preview from last Saturday, the Japan total is $6.8 million, 80% better than Ocean's Eleven and 131% over Catch Me If You Can. With this debut and a looming United Kingdom premiere on Feb. 4, the all-star crime caper has an excellent shot at matching the original's $267.3 million total.

Closer fell no more than 35% in all 8 of its holdover markets and had superb starts in 13 of its debuting territories. Of the openings, France stood out with $2,935,093 from a moderate 325 screens—matching Erin Brockovich's bow (which opened at a much wider 572 screens) and easily out-grossing Lost in Translation and The Hours. Closer had a similar reception in Belgium with $376,514 from 28 screens and in Spain with $2,093,655 from 265 screens. It opened in first place in Brazil, grossing $795,253 from 180 screens, and it even performed exceptionally well in Asia, a traditionally poor market for dramas—making $125,114 from just 7 screens in Hong Kong and $117,703 from 21 in Thailand.

Holdovers were just as good. In the U.K., the romantic drama had its highest gross, taking in $3,022,066 from 332 screens for a $7,706,650 total. It was up 10% over its opening weekend, perhaps because of its two wins for supporting actor and supporting actress at the Golden Globes. It fell only 29% in Germany to $1,639,885 from 474 screens for a $4,677,984 total, and, in Mexico, it was off just 17% to $336,401 from 120 for a $1,033,649 total.

With $29.8 million in the till, Closer's success can be attributed to several factors. For one, the movie's star power seems to be drawing in large crowds in its opening weekends. Second, excellent reviews and positive word-of-mouth have helped its longevity. Finally, its end-of-the-year awards have given it unusually long legs as shown in Italy, where it is still in the top 15 despite being in its seventh week of release.

Crossing the century mark, Alexander captured an estimated $9.5 million from 2,900 screens in 54 markets over the weekend for a $103 million total. In Australia, Oliver Stone's epic debuted to $1.3 million from 187 screens, ranking behind the fifth weekend of Meet the Fockers—though, historically, it topped The Patriot by 14%. In neighboring New Zealand, it landed in first with $194,300 from 46 prints.

In its second weekend in Italy, Alexander retained the lead with an excellent $2.9 million haul from 500 prints. It fell only 25% from its blockbuster debut, and its total grew to $8.1 million, putting it 45% ahead of Gladiator in the same time frame. In Brazil, also in its second weekend, it was No. 2 behind opener Closer with $580,900 from 180 prints for a $2.142 million total.

Blade: Trinity had potent starts in Germany and Austria last weekend. Easily No. 1 in Germany, the final installment in the Blade franchise drew $4,551,167 from 524 screens, which nearly matches such blockbuster hits like Gladiator and XXX and tops Signs, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and The X-Files Movie. Blade: Trinity's reception was surprising because the franchise seemed to be trending downward after Blade II grossed $10.2 million in its entire run compared to the first Blade's $12.8 million. Neighboring Austria was just as impressive with a $873,036 debut from 86 screens. German Switzerland followed suit with a $413,791 opening on just 46 screens. With $43.0 million so far and figures flying past its predecessors, Blade: Trinity will pass the international totals of both Blade ($61.1 million) and Blade II ($72,601,778).

Elektra had a decent showing in its first big week at the international box office. After a cold reception in Australia, which has produced just $2.5 million in two weeks, the Marvel Comics adaptation had solid openings in Europe, Latin America and especially Asia. In the U.K., it grossed $1.5 million on 330 screens, good enough for fifth place in a crowded market. Mexico offered $893,000 on 350 for second place, and South Korea recorded $715,000 on 81 for fourth. The Jennifer Garner vehicle was excellent in Singapore with $426,000 on 43 and earned $332,000 on 176 in Brazil.

The Aviator had two excellent premieres as well as strong holds in all markets. The Howard Hughes biopic ranked second in its German bow, grossing $2 million from 305 screens—just below what Closer did a week ago and over 100% better than Ray two weeks ago. It took $300,000 in its Austrian opening as well. Among holdovers, it eased 7% to $1.76 million in the U.K. for a $6.9 million total and dropped 27% in Spain to $1.6 million on 390 screens for a $4.5 million total.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason reached $200 million at the international box office after an estimated weekend gross of $2,298,804 at 1,029 dates in 20 territories. There are still seven more territories to open, including Japan in March. Bridget Jones's Diary notched $210.4 million in its overseas run.

Ray rolled in to seven more territories, including the U.K. and Italy, moving its international total to $4,250,292 In the U.K., it grossed a strong $911,294 from 224 screens, which is the result distributor Universal was anticipating. In Italy, it made a fifth place $544,419 at 173 dates. It had good reviews in both territories, and the audience reactions were positive.

The Ray Charles biopic wasn't impressive outside of the powerhouse markets of Europe. In Argentina, it earned just $18,673 from 18 screens, while, in Israel, it grossed $39,740 from 15. In Scandinavia, it was in very limited release, which led to low numbers. Finland amounted to $14,615 from 4 screens, while Norway conjured up $18,134 on 8.

Ray held extremely well in the German-speaking territories. In Germany, it grossed $551,732 at 130 dates in Germany, off just 11% in its third weekend for an 18-day tally of $2,482,768. It is keeping pace with movies like Lost in Translation and The Hours. In Austria, the Oscar hopeful fell only 2% in its second weekend to $82,890 from 37 screens for a 10-day total of $219,084.

National Treasure bagged $6.1 million over the weekend for a $128.5 million total. The Nicolas Cage adventure bowed at No. 1 in Malaysia with $289,000 and Argentina with $239,000.

Alfie had surprising returns in Australia and South Korea, which led to a $1,447,406 weekend from 440 screens in 17 markets for a $14,503,118 total. In Australia, the remake grossed $679,323 from 145 screens for a fifth place finish. It was even more potent in South Korea, where it managed $344,570 from just 70 screens. After a strong $8,482,213 run in the U.K., it's having a relatively solid run overseas as its already passed its $13.4 million domestic take and should easily top $20 million.

A Very Long Engagement hasn't been performing well in non-French territories. It made $1.066 million over the weekend from 336 prints in 14 countries for a $40.3 million total. In the U.K., the Amelie reunion of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and star Audrey Tautou grossed a decent $580,500 from 121 screens, which pales compared to Amelie's $824,370 opening from 82 screens. The World War I drama also premiered in Denmark ($75,300 on 16) and Finland ($59,700 from 8), ranking in the top five in each market.

Howl's Moving Castle drew $2 million in its second weekend in France, slipping only 6% and boosting its territory total to $4.6 million. Director Hayao Miyazaki's previous picture Spirited Away made $7.2 million in total there. Howl's Moving Castle's tally in Japan improved to a stunning $159.8 million.

Meet the Fockers played very well in its Asian and Latin American debuts. Over the weekend, the comedy sequel grossed $4,576,807 from 951 screens in 10 markets for a $36,881,314 total. In the Philippines, it grossed a strong $345,956 from 44 screens, topping its Meet the Parents. In tsunami-ridden Indonesia, it still managed a decent $173,105 from 27 screens. Colombia's $263,832 from 57 screens was especially potent, while Thailand's $243,981 from 40 was at the same level as its predecessor.

The Bourne Supremacy officially passed the century mark last Thursday and weekend numbers pushed its total to $100.4 million. The action sequel is tentatively scheduled to release in its final market, Japan, on Feb, 11. The Bourne Identity grossed $13,187,671 there, and Supremacy will likely improve on that mark.

January 21-23, 2005

<CENTER> <TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 border=1> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dcdcdc>

Rank</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dcdcdc>

Title</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dcdcdc>

Weekend Gross</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dcdcdc>

Theater Count</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dcdcdc>

Territory Count</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dcdcdc>

Total Gross</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

1</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Ocean's Twelve</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$14.4m</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

4,612</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

58</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$170.4m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

2</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

Closer</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$12,876,954</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

2,066</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

21</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$29,764,338</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

3</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Alexander</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$9.5m</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

2,900</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

54</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$103m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

Blade: Trinity</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$6,888,208</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

1,608</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

14</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$43,047,018</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

The Aviator</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$6,668,363</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

1,359</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$18,637,083</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

National Treasure</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$6.1m</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$128.5m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

The Incredibles

25th picture ever to top $600 million in worldwide ticket sales</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$5.2m</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$343m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

Meet the Fockers</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$4,842,612</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

1,012</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

12</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$37,050,112</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Elektra</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$4.5m</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

1,207</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

6</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$6.8m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

Kung Fu Hustle

Off just 25% in South Korea for a $4,698,491 total</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$3,026,937</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

683</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

8</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$58,324,854</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Taiwan opening ($507,543 from 56) and Poland opening ($126,771 from 44)</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$2,852,474</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

894</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

13</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$50,208,228</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$2.5m</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

1,070</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

21</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$200m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Team America: World Police

Fell only 28% in its second weekend, grossing $2,079,192 from 328 for a $6,366,767 total.</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$2,185,362</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

464</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

6</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$11,904,255</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

Ray</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$2,182,127</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

586</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

8</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$4,250,292</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

Alfie</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$1,447,406</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

440</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

17</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$14,503,118</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

Off only 19% in its third week in Australia for $4,095,500 total</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$1,416,950</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

854</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

7</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$21,534,170</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

The Polar Express</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$1.3,</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$114.853m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

The Terminal

Still playing in Japan ($35,544,813) and Switzerland</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$1,120,160</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

282</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

2</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f4f4ff>

$134.8m</TD></TR> <TR> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

-</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

A Very Long Engagement</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$1.066m</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

336</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

14</TD> <TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>

$40.3m</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>