071301

Rank	Title	Weekend Gross	Theater Count	Territory Count	Total Gross
1	Shrek	$17.0	3,268	24	$76.6
2	Pearl Harbor	$14.5	4,087	37	$150.1
3	Lara Croft: Tomb Raider	$11.0	3,200	21	$67.3
4	A.I. Artificial Intelligence	$5.4	518	1	$37.1
5	Evolution	$4.8	2,000	26	$18.5

It was a week of finality. Pearl Harbor finally debuted in Japan (and to excellent numbers), The Mummy Returns finally crossed the $200 million mark, being the first to do so internationally this year (and the second domestically), and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within finally opened to pleasing numbers.

Commanding the top spot with a marvelous $7.2 million on 430 screens, Pearl Harbor opened in its last major market, Japan. That number, which includes Saturday's sneaks, is a Buena Vista International all-time record, rimming out Armageddon which went on to be the second highest grosser in Japan ever. That number is also 80% ahead of Saving Private Ryan and is the market's sixth-highest opening ever, eclipsing Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, newbie A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Mission: Impossible 2, Independence Day, and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Reducing a mere 17%, Steven Spielberg's A.I.: Artificial Intelligence raked in $5.4 million in its third frame on 518, hoisting its complete gross to $37 million. WB Int'l acclaimed that it was the market's largest third weekend ever, 109% ahead of the comparable frame of Jurassic Park and a whopping 121% better than Mission: Impossible 2. If it continues on its present course, it would surpass the century mark within September.

Warner Brothers claims A.I.'s third lap was fractionally ahead of Pearl Harbor's opening weekend, excluding the latter's Friday night previews; however, it's standard practice to include sneaks in the first weekend tallies. As you recall A.I. pulled in the second highest previews ever for one day. Also, as in the States, Pearl Harbor's three hour length restricts it to three sessions a day which tells us audiences weren't as excited about it as A.I. which started regular screenings at 10:00 A.M. to meet the demand.

All told, the Michael Bay project accumulated $14.5 million from 4,270 engagements in 40 markets, rocketing its total to $150.1 million, assisted largely by Germany's $24 million in six weeks, Spain's $3.2 million in 10 days, and Sweden's $1.9 million.

Winning this weekend was, again, Shrek. Yes, that fairy-tale ogre is still drawing in record crowds cumulating $16.5 million from around 3,300 screens in 24 markets over last weekend. The best consistency belongs to Australia, where the animated film continues to reign on top slipping just 2% and its screen average dropped less than one percent. It has totaled $12,118,931 so far. It should pass Moulin Rouge's $12,172,736 by Tuesday. DreamWorks' ogre devoured a very good $1.3 million on 282 in Spain, where hot weather subdued the box office. Films opening in summer in Spain almost always increase there second weekend, and Shrek will most likely increase by more than ten percent. In The Netherlands, Shrek took a brilliant $450,000 on 112, beating Toy Story 2 and A Bug's Life by 23% and 153% respectively. In Poland it beat Dinosaur's preem by 10% grabbing an excellent $313,000 on 52.

In South Korea, another outstanding market, the toon slipped by just 20%, drawing a socko $4.6 million in nine days. The film improved by 2% in Germany, earning $6.5 million in 11 days. And eased a by a very impressive 15% in France, taking $6.8 million in 12 days. Summer pictures tend to fall way over 30% in France.

Day-and-date with the domestic opening, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within launched in several markets with sporadic numbers. In Hong Kong, the film grabbed a good $423,000 on 27, behind both Shaolin Soccer and Shrek. The $115 million project climbed the totem pole to the first spot with $304,000 on 30, which is very good, but not excellent. In Malaysia it took an excellent $232,000 on 35 and in The Philippines it grabbed a good $193,000 on 49, where it definitely could have done better.

Omens are awesome for Jurassic Park III as it grabbed the second spot in Singapore by just paid previews. All in all it took $280,000 for the weekend on 50 screens, beating the sneaks of Pearl Harbor and Mission: Impossible 2. And in Malaysia it took an excellent $200,000 on 41 trumping the sneaks of The Mummy Returns, Pearl Harbor, and Mission: Impossible 2. The picture should 'saur next weekend when it debuts in 12 markets, day-and-date with the U.S.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider continues with good numbers with an estimated $11.4 million form 23 markets bringing its foreign tally to approximately $67.2 million, driven by Taiwan's huge $1.2 million in two days on a whopping 48 screens, Thailand's $498,000 in three days on 104, the U.K.'s $10.9 million in 10 days, and Germany's $9.3 million in 18 days.

Evolution brought in $4.7 million from 2,000 screens in 16 opening markets, and 11 holdovers, led by Australia's dandy $1,028,864 on 225 screens. In South Korea it stole a fair $432,000 on 60 screens, in Brazil it did a so-so $304,000 on 157, and in Argentina it took a soft $207,000 on 58. Its total is a fair $18.5 million, highlighted by the U.K.'s $9.1 million and Spain's $2.6 million.

Dr. Dolittle 2 beat Evolution in Brazil, prescribing $675,000 on 182 screens, Fox's eighth-highest bow there, and fell by an excellent 11% in Australia retaining the third position.

And finally, The Mummy Returns crossed the $200 million mark totaling $203.6 million.

Next week, Cats & Dogs fights its way into Germany along with Evolution and The Dish. Evoltuion, Spy Kids, and Town & Country make their way into Gaul. Someone Like You debuts in United Kingdom along with the favorite Jurassic Park III. And in Japan, a Japanese animated fantasy film, Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi should disrupt Pearl Harbor and A.I. along with another opener Dr. Dolittle 2.

The big question is: How will JP3 perform? I say excellent in the Asian markets, and in the United Kingdom expect around $7 million. Which is very good, but no where near the sequel. I think A.I. will take back the top spot falling by 10-15% and Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi to take the second spot, defeating Pearl Harbor which should fall 30% or more. It looks like Cats & Dogs could dethrown Shrek in Germany, but with that ogre, anything possible.