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For those who wanted to escape the 24-hour news coverage, the box office was their only savior, but many decided to watch the 24 hour news coverage. The terrorist attacks in the United States brought attention abroad and in many markets fell accordingly. For a film that needs a strong opening, Steven Spielberg's A.I.: Artificial Intelligence opened on the wrong weekend in Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Germany-speaking Switzerland. Elsewhere Moulin Rouge, The Others, and Planet of the Apes continued their dominance in the respective markets. However, terrorist-themed Swordfish led the way in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence did grab the top spot in Australia, but with a mediocre $841,964 from 246 screens. Australia was done considerably due to the terrorist attacks. Unless strong word-of-mouth happens, which is highly unlikely (the film received mixed reviews and word-of-mouth in the State), A.I. could have a poor run in Oz; possibly $2.5 million or less. The Princess Diaries did just as well as it did in the States with a great second place finish and $683,119 from 214 screens. Disney's film looks to possibly grab another $100 million overseas. Australia's total box office was done 7.1%, but the average of decline for the other films was a very high 38.1%.

A.I. received relatively similar numbers in its other opening territories. In Germany, the Kubrick influenced film ranked fractionally above Eyes Wide Shut's opening at $1.9 million on 670, but was no match for the fourth outing of Bridget Jones's Diary. In Austria, where Der Schuch des Manitu continues its record-breaking performance, the film grabbed second place with $205,687 on 75. The entire Austrian market was done a massive 32%, most likely due to the news. Being the 16th film to cross the $100 million mark internationally, A.I. has jumped to $104.2 million total.

Planet of the Apes conquered its last major market, Italy. It swallowed $1.9 million from 366 screens. The Italian box office was somewhat hurt by the recent events, but overall it increased as almost every theater has reopened since summer. In Russia, Tim Burton's re-imagining garnished the all-time opening weekend record with $735,000 on 60 screens. Still cashing in, in all of its territories, Planet of the Apes was, once again, the winner this week with $8.6 million from 4,091 screens in 36 markets. The film only has Egypt, Greece, most Eastern Europe, and India left.

Moulin Rouge again ruled the U.K. market, ringing up $2,702,977 from 314 screens for an awesome screen average of $8,609 (the highest for the weekend there). The film already has a fantastic $8,239,402 in just two weeks of release. Just behind the Nicole Kidman starrer was Universal's The Fast & the Furious. The fast-paced action film coined $2,562,414 from 414. Great considering it has virtually no star appeal. The U.K. box office wasn't much effected by the terrorist attack, just like in the U.S.

The other Nicole Kidman starrer, The Others, tailed Planet of the Apes again, only this time in Italy. The film spooked up a neat $1 million on 200, but overtook Planet of the Apes in Spain in its sophomore session, snaring a superb $3 million, down just 9%. It already has $8.6 million in Spain.

Warner Brothers' Swordfish exploded into France with the top spot and $1,640,220 on 501 in five days. The John Travolta/Hugh Jackman starrer also clocked impressive numbers in The Netherlands ($337,000 on 80) and Belgium ($318,000 on 47), but it did a so-so $164,000 on 50 in Sweden. Its foreign total has reached $39.1 million and should bounce over $40 million by the end of the week and could finished above its domestic tally of $69.8 million with Germany, Japan, and Taiwan still ahead. Germany especially should beef up its total.

A Knight's Tale led the field in Mexico (where Independence Day smashed BO) with $919,000 on 280 and entered the Philippines and South Africa on the top spot, but failed to develop in Belgium at the number five spot. The film to date has about $15 million and should give Sony some profit by the end of its run.

And finally Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within launched into its home market, Japan. Surprisingly, the film could only manage $2 million in two days on 256 screens, hoisting its total to $41 million. Hopefully the box office was down due to news. It was reviewed well in the market and has the benefit of the fans for an opening weekend. Perhaps the weeks to come will make up for lost ground.

Next week, business should pick up. Planet of the Apes looks for record numbers in Egypt, Hungary, and Lithuania. In France the gothic thriller Vidocq unleashes on 670 screens. The film cost a gigantic $21 million (152 million Francs). The distributor, UFD, looks for an opening around $7 million. Other French films (Comment J'ai tue mon Pere and Le Lait de la Tendresse Humaine) look for top 10 finishes. Baby Boy and Blow are the only domestic features being released next weekend. A.I. needs a huge bow to be successful in the U.K. as it competes with The Center of the World and crazy/beautiful. Atlantis: The Lost Empire tries to capture Dinosaur type numbers as Disney's latest, The Emperor's New Groove could only manage $3.8 million. Dinosaur totaled $8 million in its run there last year. The Disney feature also has direct competition in Cats & Dogs and Spy Kids which only releases in Queensland and Victoria. Australia also has something for the teens with The Fast & the Furious. In Germany, The Animal looks to stir up some laughs as it competes with German openers and The Hole.

Earlier this year another mega-budget thriller, Belphegor, Le Fantome du Louvre opened with around $6 million. Vidocq should come up with a little bit more at around $7 million. A.I. has no competition in the U.K. and should open somewhere north of $5 million. Australia should see Atlantis with the win and A.I. creep up to about a $1 million weekend and Cats & Dogs be somewhere in the middle. Germany should either see a jump from A.I. or Bridget Jones's Diary retain pole position again.

These are my predicted foreign totals for the selected films:

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: $141 million

Swordfish: $85 million

Shrek: $259 million

Bridget Jones's Diary: $171 million

Moulin Rouge: $82 million

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence: $214 million

Cats & Dogs: $110 million

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within: $101 million

Planet of the Apes: $210 million

Rush Hour 2: $151 million

*Numbers are changed whenever a market produces unexpected numbers.