February 2-4, 2001
(Grosses in millions)

Around the World Round Up
by Kenan Bresnan

Still the pacesetter abroad, Cast Away racked up $14.3 million from 25 territories over the weekend. The Tom Hanks starrer grabbed $1.2 million from only 82 screens in South Korea, the best debut there this winter and practically par with Gladiator's bow last year. In Greece, the desert island adventure reaped $461,000 from 38 screens in three days. With stand-out territories in Germany ($19.7 million), the United Kingdom ($16.6 million), Italy ($10.5 million), Australia ($7.4 million), and Spain ($5.5 million) Cast Away should crack the century mark next week.

Meet the Parents reached that milestone after adding $5.3 million from 19 countries. The Robert De Niro/Ben Stiller laffer whipped up $2.2 million bow from 222 screens in Italy. Probably the only place it hasn't caught fire is South Korea, where it's earned an O.K. $1.6 million.

What Women Want wooed a lusty $5 million from 402 screens in Britain. And after a disappointing debut, the romantic comedy has rebounded in Japan, with a modest $3.1 million in nine days.

Also in Japan, another Helen Hunt starrer an domestic underachiever Pay It Forward picked up a surprisingly robust $1.9 million in two days for first place. That bested the bows of Kevin Spacey's American Beauty and Hunt's As Good As It Gets. It has fared nearly as well elsewhere though. Though it did did O.K. in Israel, it was very soft in The Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and terrible in the U.K. with a paltry $928,000 in 10 days.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soared past $40 million mark, helped by Italy's terrific $472,000 from 53 screens. Ang Lee's wire-fu fantasy has already amassed $8.8 million in France, $6.8 million in Blighty, $4.7 million in Germany, and $4.3 million from its homeland Taiwan. It hasn't taken off in other Asian territories though, with a so-so $1.9 million in Hong Kong and a terrible $1.8 million nationwide in Japan.

Vertical Limit unearthed $10.4 million overseas as its foreign haul ascended to $87.2 million. The K2 adventure reached the summit in Spain, where it had $1.6 million in 304, The Philippines, $421,000 from 61, and No. 2 in Argentina at $463,000 from 90.

Bedazzled stole a devilish $3.4 million from 22 markets, including solid debuts in Belgium and Turkey, but a horrible start in Sweden. Its foreign total reached $38.9 million, surpassing its $37.9 million domestic take.

And finally in Russia, Charlie's Angels reaped a fantastic $254,000 from 44 screens. With its last stop in China, to film has already reached $132.1 million with a $145-150 million final tally in its sights.