March 9-11, 2001
(Grosses in millions)

Around the World Round Up
by Kenan Bresnan

A devilish performance from the director's cut of The Exorcist, boosting its foreign total almost past the domestic $39.7 million. The 1973 horror classic dethroned Hannibal in Mexico with $1.4 million in two days and in Argentina with $503,742. It's enjoyed fantastic numbers everywhere its opened, especially Italy's $6,815,082.

In Britain, an unchallenged Hannibal remained at the top of the totem pole with $1,774,529 from 428 and a total that could end up being the largest grosser of the year there, $28,015,307. Sophomore sessions for Chocolat and The Gift fell slightly with respective totals of $3,280,582 and $3,021,191. Best in Show didn't win any blue ribbons with only $192,691 for 13th place.

Topping the charts in Italy, Argentina, and Australia, Traffic is reaping the benefits of the awards season. The Steven Soderbergh's drug epic sniffed up $1,009,087 on 190 screens in Italy and $1,330,386 in Australia. On its opening day in France, it picked up approximately $340,860. Openings were sweet in Sweden with $236,441 and fine in Finland with $107,603. On April 5th, it hits Germany.

Fox's unexpected hit Dude, Where's My Car? opened to $1,002,626 from Spain, beating out fellow freshmen 15 Minutes ($689,130) and Spanish No te Fallare. Although it was insufficient to dislodge Hannibal from the top spot and its fabulous $8,277,774 to date.

Hopefully next week business will be stronger with Enemy at the Gates, Thirteen Days and Lucky Numbers battling it out in the U.K.. Opening today in Germany is Oscar nominee Chocolat, The Exorcist reissue, Enemy at the Gates, Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, and New Line's Sugar & Spice. Light openers in Italy include Remember the Titans, Snatch and You Can Count on Me. A plethora of openers invade Japan: the re-release of The Silence of the Lambs, Almost Famous, and Proof of Life. Chocolat debuts in Mexico. State & Main and Proof of Life have high hopes in Sweden. Austrlia gets the dated Dracula 2000. And in France The Exorcist and Enemy at the Gates duel.