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Same films...bigger numbers! Yes, that was the story last weekend as American Pie 2 led the way to a prosperous international market. Outstanding openings in France and Belgium boosted sales dramitcally.

The Pie sequel boded perfect with Gaelic auds, creaming off $5,884,450 from a wide 495 screens, almost half of what the original earned in its entire run in France, and UIP's biggest opening of the year there.

The laffer also scored at the top in Belgium ($754,000 on 47), Portugal ($341,000 on 48, UIP's third-highest bow and the market's fifth-best of all time), the Philippines ($249,000 on 45), and Singapore ($137,000 on 12).

AP2 was this frame's pacesetter, whipping up $15 million over the weekend a stellar cume of $58,944,105 in just 17 markets (2,320 screens). Watch for this comedy to be the international market's Rush Hour 2.

Bridget Jones's Diary didn't let any steam go by, scorching $2,107,388 on 260 screens in Italy and abated a modest 31% in France, mustering a delicious $8.3 million in 12 days. It has $173.4 million to date.

Early in its overseas voyage, The Princess Diaries record a local record for a Disney live action pic, outrunning 102 Dalmatians in Mexico with $1 million on 238. It even outran Runaway Bride by 17%. It has $10 so far in its foreign run.

Speeding into a lucrative Germany, The Fast & the Furious led the field with $2.6 million from 522, and scored an even bigger $403,718 on 66 in Austria (13% ahead of Gone in 60 Seconds). However, it couldn't combat the openers in Japan, managing a measly $1 million in two days from 306. It has $41,558,819 so far.

Also in Japan, Training Day tried it first international visit, but went to Denzel-like numbers, scraping up $430,000 on 160. Combining the genre and Denzel Washington's poor international appeal equaled that nasty number. Remember the Titans could only manage $21 million, despite its impressive $115.7 million domestic run. The Bone Collector faired OK in the international market, but The Siege could only score in Germany with $9.2 million there. Don't expect things to change for several years to come.

Creature feature Cats & Dogs fetched a nifty $1.4 million on 203 in Japan, 33% better than Dr. Dolittle 2 and 7% up on Stuart Little. The kidpic chewed on $336,000 on 62 in Belgium hoisting its cume pass $84 million, with Italy the only major market remaining.

Moulin Rouge danced into Germany with a tepid $1.5 million on 404 and reigned in Spain, easing by just 23%, where it has collared $2.9 million in 10 days there. It faired the same in Austria with $182,488 on 39. Buoyed by a $6.6 million weekend in 31 markets, the musical scaled $71.4 million.

America's Sweethearts stopped its jinxed title in the UK where it grabbed $2,446,163 on 413 in its opening weekend. It also curtailed into The Netherlands with $331,000 on 93 and Thailand with $231,000 on 55. With Belgium, France, Italy, and Japan still ahead the $28 million cume could wind up with around $70 million.

In a market in desperat need of horror, Jeepers Creepers capitalized. In the UK, the film scored a nice $2,180,559 on 307 screens. Also in the UK, Atlantis: The Lost Empire increased its screen by 446 for a healthy $1,824,005 on 486 for $2,052,630 in two weeks.

Down Under Scary Movie 2 stole pole position with $771,000 on 250 and had a nice hold in Italy, one of its best markets to date. From 30 territories, the film now has $38.8 million.

Next weekend Planet of the Apes looks to finish its foreign run in Roland and Romania. Moulin Rouge ventures off into Lebanon. In Germany Angel Eyes, crazy/beautiful, and Kiss of the Dragon finish off the October releases with a muffled bang. In Gaul, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence tries one last major market on 686 screens along with The Princess Diaries (on 211). Down Under Don't Say a Word lifts off its foreign campaign along with Malena, Shackelton's Antaratic Adventure, and John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars. And in the United Kingdom Legally Blonde is the sole wide released film.

Expect Kiss of the Dragon to faire well in Germany, but not even come close to the top spot that should be led by The Fast & the Furious again. In France A.I. may get a Final Fantasy size opening (around $3 million) as The Princess Diaries scores with a wonderful $2 million. In Australia Don't Say a Word should lead the way with over $1 million as Ghosts of Mars gets trampled over at $400,000. And in the UK expect Legally Blonde to steal the top spot with $3 million.

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