Around the World Roundup: 'Shrek' Reigns Again
The same four pictures led the weekend foreign box officer again, though the order shifted a bit. Shrek the Third remained on top with $47.3 million from 40 territories for a $170.4 million total.
In Germany, the fractured fairy tale grabbed $7.8 million from 858 screens while, in neighboring Austria, it yielded $968,507 from 69. Other openings included the Netherlands ($1.7 million from 211), Spain ($7.7 million from 524) and Switzerland ($850,263), and all were marginally shy of Shrek 2.
Shrek the Third excelled in three other markets. In Venezuela, it played on only 65 screens and grossed $1.1 million, topping Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End by 46 percent. In Belgium, its $2.5 million from 139 screens was higher than Spider-Man 3 and the best of the Shrek franchise. In Portugal, it logged the biggest opening of the year (by just $5,000) at $1.1 million from 67 screens. Meanwhile, in previews in the United Kingdom, it made $10.9 million from 536 screens. The previews were conducted on June 23 and 24 and were not included in the weekend gross, and another preview will be held on June 28 before the movie technically opens on the 29th.
In second-weekend holdover markets, Shrek the Third experienced some high drop-off rates, including Brazil's 40 percent ($11 million total), France's 40 percent ($21.1 million) and Turkey's 55 percent ($2.2 million total). In its sixth week of release in Russia, though, Shrek the Third has totaled $22.8 million, $17.5 million more than Shrek 2's final tally—speaking in part to the expansion of the Russian market. Shrek the Third continues its staggered release schedule this weekend with openings in Hong Kong, Japan and the U.K.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer placed second with an estimated $22.1 million for a $57 million total. The superhero sequel saw mostly 50 percent or more drop-offs while at the same time showing Fantastic Four-like openings. Silver Surfer narrowly beat Shrek the Third in Australia with $2.5 million from 343 screens, which was 7 percent shy of the original. In Latin America, Surfer reported excellent starts, including Bolivia's top-ranked $37,556 from 11 screens, Central America's $590,000, Colombia's $478,891, Ecuador's $214,705 from 39, Mexico's $5.7 million and Uruguay's $21,567 from 11. The movie also opened in South Africa with a sizeable $410,411 from 72.
In the U.K., Four held onto the top spot with a $4.5 million weekend, down 45 percent for a $15.8 million total. It's currently playing 17 percent ahead of the original there.
Ranking third overall, Ocean's Thirteen passed the $100 million after its $21.3 million weekend from 49 markets. In France, the caper comedy was second with a $4 million debut from 755 prints, 35 percent less than its predecessor, and it was also second in Brazil with a $1.1 million start. Holdovers ranged from Germany's 21 percent drop to Spain's 57 percent. Looking at totals, Thirteen only has two major markets that are certain to exceed Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve: the U.K. (with $19.1 million thus far after a $2.8 million weekend) and South Korea, where Thirteen's already the franchise champion at $6.7 million. Thirteen hits Mexico this weekend.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End grossed an estimated $20.4 million to place fourth for the weekend. In China, the supernatural swashbuckler was off only 40 percent in its second weekend to $2.3 million weekend for an $11.3 million total. In Japan, it remained on top for the fifth consecutive week with $4.3 million from 757 screens for a $68.6 million total. The big news, though, was that it became the seventh highest grossing picture of all time at $584.6 million, surpassing the last two Harry Potter movies.
In Russia and the Ukraine, Evan Almighty had day-and-date openings with domestic. Since the release of predecessor Bruce Almighty in 2003, both countries have seen three to four-fold increases in their overall box office, rendering comparisons meaningless. Evan, though, played as well as Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with a $1.6 million debut in Russia, while the Ukraine yielded $226,127.
Blades of Glory had two strong openings, driving its $2.2 million weekend for a $19.8 million thus far. In Australia, the comedy grabbed $1.9 million from 186 screens and, in New Zealand, it scored $263,042 from 42 screens.
Grindhouse: Planet Terror saw its first international launches over the weekend. The first part of domestic's Grindhouse double feature opened almost identically to Death Proof in three territories, and none were impressive. Its highest-grossing territory was Russia with $444,324, while in the Ukraine it managed $42,499. The picture also opened in Bulgaria with $4,848 from 4 screens.
RELATED LINKS
• Foreign Weekend Box Office Results
• International Box Office Home Page
In Germany, the fractured fairy tale grabbed $7.8 million from 858 screens while, in neighboring Austria, it yielded $968,507 from 69. Other openings included the Netherlands ($1.7 million from 211), Spain ($7.7 million from 524) and Switzerland ($850,263), and all were marginally shy of Shrek 2.
Shrek the Third excelled in three other markets. In Venezuela, it played on only 65 screens and grossed $1.1 million, topping Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End by 46 percent. In Belgium, its $2.5 million from 139 screens was higher than Spider-Man 3 and the best of the Shrek franchise. In Portugal, it logged the biggest opening of the year (by just $5,000) at $1.1 million from 67 screens. Meanwhile, in previews in the United Kingdom, it made $10.9 million from 536 screens. The previews were conducted on June 23 and 24 and were not included in the weekend gross, and another preview will be held on June 28 before the movie technically opens on the 29th.
In second-weekend holdover markets, Shrek the Third experienced some high drop-off rates, including Brazil's 40 percent ($11 million total), France's 40 percent ($21.1 million) and Turkey's 55 percent ($2.2 million total). In its sixth week of release in Russia, though, Shrek the Third has totaled $22.8 million, $17.5 million more than Shrek 2's final tally—speaking in part to the expansion of the Russian market. Shrek the Third continues its staggered release schedule this weekend with openings in Hong Kong, Japan and the U.K.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer placed second with an estimated $22.1 million for a $57 million total. The superhero sequel saw mostly 50 percent or more drop-offs while at the same time showing Fantastic Four-like openings. Silver Surfer narrowly beat Shrek the Third in Australia with $2.5 million from 343 screens, which was 7 percent shy of the original. In Latin America, Surfer reported excellent starts, including Bolivia's top-ranked $37,556 from 11 screens, Central America's $590,000, Colombia's $478,891, Ecuador's $214,705 from 39, Mexico's $5.7 million and Uruguay's $21,567 from 11. The movie also opened in South Africa with a sizeable $410,411 from 72.
In the U.K., Four held onto the top spot with a $4.5 million weekend, down 45 percent for a $15.8 million total. It's currently playing 17 percent ahead of the original there.
Ranking third overall, Ocean's Thirteen passed the $100 million after its $21.3 million weekend from 49 markets. In France, the caper comedy was second with a $4 million debut from 755 prints, 35 percent less than its predecessor, and it was also second in Brazil with a $1.1 million start. Holdovers ranged from Germany's 21 percent drop to Spain's 57 percent. Looking at totals, Thirteen only has two major markets that are certain to exceed Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve: the U.K. (with $19.1 million thus far after a $2.8 million weekend) and South Korea, where Thirteen's already the franchise champion at $6.7 million. Thirteen hits Mexico this weekend.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End grossed an estimated $20.4 million to place fourth for the weekend. In China, the supernatural swashbuckler was off only 40 percent in its second weekend to $2.3 million weekend for an $11.3 million total. In Japan, it remained on top for the fifth consecutive week with $4.3 million from 757 screens for a $68.6 million total. The big news, though, was that it became the seventh highest grossing picture of all time at $584.6 million, surpassing the last two Harry Potter movies.
In Russia and the Ukraine, Evan Almighty had day-and-date openings with domestic. Since the release of predecessor Bruce Almighty in 2003, both countries have seen three to four-fold increases in their overall box office, rendering comparisons meaningless. Evan, though, played as well as Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with a $1.6 million debut in Russia, while the Ukraine yielded $226,127.
Blades of Glory had two strong openings, driving its $2.2 million weekend for a $19.8 million thus far. In Australia, the comedy grabbed $1.9 million from 186 screens and, in New Zealand, it scored $263,042 from 42 screens.
Grindhouse: Planet Terror saw its first international launches over the weekend. The first part of domestic's Grindhouse double feature opened almost identically to Death Proof in three territories, and none were impressive. Its highest-grossing territory was Russia with $444,324, while in the Ukraine it managed $42,499. The picture also opened in Bulgaria with $4,848 from 4 screens.
RELATED LINKS
• Foreign Weekend Box Office Results
• International Box Office Home Page
