Around
the World Round Up
by Kenan
Bresnan
The
large group of summer blockbusters has
strongly stated that they haven't left. Rush
Hour 2, Moulin Rouge,
The Fast & the Furious,
and America's Sweethearts
all continue their impressive runs as American
Pie 2 scores huge in Germany,
Austria, and Switzerland.
Launching
in its first major market, American
Pie 2 slammed into Germany over
the weekend with the fourth best preem of
all-time there, behind Star Wars:
Episode I -- The Phantom Menace,
Men in Black, and Independence
Day, and a UIP record. Up 60%
from the original, which scored over $30
million in its run, the laffer gobbled up
an enormous $8,497,218 from 814 for a
heavty screen average of $10,439. The
sequel could end up with over $40
million, but a more likely number of
$30-35 million is my prediction.
Opening
in Austria as well, AP2 scored
a very impressive $972,056 from 102 for
an average of $9,530. That's Austria's
third best bow and 81% up on the
original. In Switzerland it also past
expectations with a humongous $528,000 on
42 and in South Africa it fell a little
short, but with a solid $220,000 on 60
screens. Its opening territory of Israel
has pocketed a lively $817,000 to date.
Down
Under Rush Hour 2 nabbed
the top spot for Roadshow's
seventh-biggest debut ever with
$2,147,292 on 299 on a five-day holiday
weekend. In neighboring New Zealand, the
film grabbed a sweet $240,000 on 40. The
Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker vehicle abated a
reasonable 25% in Japan, where it has an
awesome $6.9 million. It will pass the
original's $11 million by far. With
Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Latin
America, and The Netherlands still ahead,
the sequel should pass its predecessor
thanks to $48.2 million already.
Unable
to knock off local special effects film Vidocq,
The Fast & the Furious grabbed
a solid $1,966,957 from 397 for the
second session. Vidocq fell
a surprising 46% as it received poor
word-of-mouth and reviews. The fast-speed
actioner ruled Belgium with a nice
$371,000 on 40, and fared OK in Denmark
($188,759 over the week) and The
Philippines, but was lousy in Thailand.
In
Italy, Swordfish stole
$1,265,406 from 219 and the top spot for
the week. Just below it was The
Others which slipped a decent
28% for $4,194,588 in three weeks.
Debuting at the third spot, Moulin
Rouge coined $1,035,566 on 154.
That number should improve next week as
it will receive more theaters. Opening in
its first market, Woody Allen's The
Curse of the Jade Scorpion took
a solid $961,358 from 163 screens. That's
about even with Small Time Crooks,
which took $2,957,089 total.
Moulin
Rouge also took decent numbers
in Belgium ($299,000 on 50) and Norway
($166,000 on 25). It already has $45.7
million internationally with much of
Europe left to go.
America's
Sweethearts finally took a good
opening with $1.3 million on 266 in
Spain, trailing the blockbuster The
Others which has soared to a
phenomenal $16 million and could pass The
Sixth Sense in the weeks to
come. In Taipei, the romantic-comedy took
a nice $129,818 on 17. South Korea
($344,000 on 57) and Hong Kong ($250,000
on 29) also took mediocre numbers.
Retaining
pole position in the UK, A.I.:
Artificial Intelligence eased a
great 22%, for $7 million in two weeks.
In Portugal the Steven Spielberg sci-fier
grossed $257,000 on 55 for WB's opening
record, but failed to stir up commotion
in Sweden and Israel. It has $123.7
million to date.
Next weekend (Oct. 4-6) The Gift and
Spy Kids battle for the
third spot. Egypt, Portugal, and
Switzerland receive Moulin Rouge.
Thirteen Days finally is
released in France along with Angel
Eyes and Bridget Jones's
Diary. America's
Sweethearts goes solo in major
releases in Australia. And in the UK Amelie
looks for outstanding numbers
along with Driven.
Look for
American Pie 2 to just
fall about 30% with The Gift beating
Spy Kids. Bridget
Jones's Diary should conquer
France as Thirteen Days grabs
about $1 million or so. In the UK expect
previous released films to lead, but Amelie
should have the highest screen
average by far.
These are my predicted
foreign totals for the selected films:
Atlantis: The Lost
Empire: $78 million
The Princess
Diaries: $71 million
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: $181 million
Cats & Dogs:
$110 million
Final Fantasy: The
Spirits Within: $101 million
Planet of the Apes:
$210 million
Rush Hour 2:
$151 million
American Pie 2:
$161 million
The Others:
$126 million
*Numbers are changed
whenever a market produces unexpected
numbers.
Check out the FRANCE
FORECAST
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