March 22-24, 2002

Around the World Round Up
by Kenan Bresnan

Ice Age led the way to record numbers while Monsters, Inc. and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings both reached new milestones in their lucrative foreign runs.

Fox's Ice Age continued to show animated power with a $21.7 million weekend from 3,300 prints in 28 territories (25 debuts). The CGI picture broke the animation opening records in Germany with $7.6 million on 794 screens, and in Austria with $960,074 on 89. In Germany it was the studio's third-highest opener behind only Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace and Independence Day, while Austria was a company all-time high.

The prehistoric comedy didn't fair as well in the United Kingdom where Monsters, Inc. stole some of the film's thunder opening only seven weeks earlier. Over the weekend Ice Age took a still impressive $4.3 million on 423, including over $1.2 million in previews). The country was, however, led by Ali G in da House. The homegrown comedy based on a local TV series clocked in a huge $4.6 million on 396 screens. Expect many sequels to come from this lucrative title, but it should fall considerably next weekend.

Ice Age showed strength elsewhere as well. In Scandinavia the film minted a combined $1.1 million. Sweden was the worst of the bunch, but still had a decent $300,000 on 114. In Norway it gathered over $280,000, Denmark $262,000, and Finland $106,000. In Mexico, where animated films are the country's highest earners, Ice Age recorded the biggest second weekend in industry history, elevating its total to a socko $8.6 million in 10 days. Look for it to past last year's leader (although it opened in 2002) Monster, Inc., which has taken $19.9 million to date.

Being the thenth Disney toon to reach the pinnacle of $200 million overseas, Monsters, Inc. continued to gross at $200.2 million thanks to an $11.2 million weekend, spurred by France's lively $3.4 million opener on 809, Belgium's juicy $600,000 on 105, and Italy's 1% dip for $4 million in 10 days. In Japan the film has $32 million in the till through its fourth outing. It is certain to pass Dinosaur to become the highest grossing U.S. toon ever in that market.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a enjoying a lengthy and bountiful run in Japan where it has $35 million to date. It has $502 million internationally thus far. The other blockbuster, Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone, set the industry record in Russia (unseating Rings), picking up $1.5 million on 83 screens for a $634.7 million total.

A Beautiful Mind continued to fuel on its Oscar nomination (and win) with a total of $68.4 million from 25 territories. It looks to be the 21st movie to pass that mark for 2001 U.S. released films (Vanilla Sky just past that mark last weekend for a total of a little over $100 million.) Mind's scores include Italy ($8.9 million), the U.K. ($7 million), Spain ($6.3 million), and Germany ($6 million).

The Time Machine reigned in Spain, clocking $1.4 million on 259. A very healthy opening for the moderate grosser. In Singapore it also led with $280,000 on 30. But the buck stopped in Germany, where the Guy Pearce starrer wilted at $940,000 on 500 screens. The German-lensed Resident Evil was the second highest grosser (behind Ice Age) with a fantastic $1.4 million on 316. In Austria Evil managed another wonderful $264,712 on 41.

The Oscars sure helped Monster's Ball's debut in France at a fair $310,000 on 91 along with Belgium and Switzerland where it received healthy screen averages.

Return to Neverland was the loser this week offshores with a poor $400,000 on 370 in the U.K. It did take a decent $1 million on 318 in Mexico, however.

Next weekend, three major releases hit the U.K. along with two limited releases. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial takes on its 20th anniversary debut along with surprise hit Blade II and chick-flick Crossroads. In limited release Dinner Rush and Invincible battle it out. E.T. also returns to Australia along with Beauty & the Beast's IMAX debut, Behind the Sun, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Intimacy, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Kandahar, Monster's Ball, Return to Neverland, Showtime, and Sororirty Boys. Hopefully distributors were just late in change there release dates. Local production 3 Zeroes get the most screens (619) in France next weekend. It debuts with The Time Machine (491), and A La Folie Pas du Tout, starring Amelie's Audrey Tautou. E.T. continues its foreign rollout in Germany as well. Also in Germany are the openings of Crossroads, Rollerball, and The Shipping News.

Despite the U.S.'s mediocre gross E.T. should have a great opening in the U.K. at $3.7 million. Blade II should still lead though with about $4.1 million and Crossroads could flutter out at about $700,000. In Australia I'm not going to make predictions, because that's way too many films to be released and I think some of them are wrong. In France 3 Zeroes should finally unseat Asterix & Obelix with $4.7 million. The Time Machine should only manage $1.3 million. In Germany E.T. could get about $2.1 million.

2001 DOMESTIC RELEASED FILMS

These are my predicted foreign totals for the selected films:

Ice Age: $173 million

Gosford Park: $51 million

Return to Neverland: $42 million

The Time Machine: $45 million

A Beautiful Mind: $112 million

Monsters, Inc.: $204 million

Black Hawk Down: $67 million

Spy Game: $112 million

Ocean's Eleven: $248 million

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: $578 million

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone: $641 million

Atlantis: The Lost Empire: $105 million

*Numbers are changed whenever a market produces unexpected numbers.