Around
the World Round Up
by Kenan
Bresnan
American
Pie 2 serves up another
bountiful serving as A.I.:
Artificial Intelligence ran into
its last major markets (France &
Belgium) while the courts argued over The
Man Who Sued God Down Under and
were baffled by The Man Who
Wasn't There in the U.K.
Mustering
a decent $2.8 million on 687 screens, A.I.
reigned in France, its last
major stop. Warner Brothers was quick to
note that the Paris numbers beat such
films as Cast Away (by
33%) and Apollo 13 (by
11%), but forgot to mention that Cast
Away could only grab $8.7
million and the other was made in 1995. A
decent opening nonetheless, but sub par
of Spielberg's previous films. The
sci-fier faired better in Belgium with
WB's highest debut of the year with
$440,000 on 72, 9% ahead of The
Sixth Sense. A.I.'s foreign
total has launched to $146.4 million, led
by Japan's stunning $79 million.
The
frame's top earner was; however, American
Pie 2, which minted $9.8 million
from 2,242 engagements in 15 countries,
jolting its cume to $73.2 million. The
sequel feasted on previous openings, but
found openings in Norway ($604,000 on 40)
and Sweden ($295,000 on 40) to be some of
the tastiest yet.
Defying
the odds, Moulin Rouge danced
its way into South Korea to the tune of
$785,000 on 98, Fox's biggest non-holiday
debut ever there. It slipped a stellar
12% in Germany, for a decent $3.3 million
in 11 days there. With $79.9 million
already in the bank, it looks like the
film may be profitable from its int'l run
alone.
In some
of its initial offshore tryouts, Don't
Say a Word had plenty more to
say. It picked up $672,000 on 169 in
Australia and $359,000 on 177 in Brazil.
Expect Fox to get more theaters for the
film in the Asian markets, but not in any
European markets.
Legally
Blonde courted its way into the
U.K. at the second spot with a solid
$2,111,152 on 324. It ruled The
Philippines with $206,000 41 for a $10
million cume early in its foreign run.
Releasing
almost a year after its domestic date, Sweet
November still had plenty to
smile about in Japan. The Keanu
Reeves-Charlize Theron starrer fetched a
solid $1.7 million on 244. Despite
bombing in the rest of Asia and several
European markets, the film has taken a
modest $19.9 million.
In
Spain, The Score scored
with a lively $1 million on 249. However,
in Italy it plunged 34% for $2 million in
10 days. Compared to the State's $72
million, the Robert De Niro headliner
isn't tracking anywhere strongly
overseas, with $21 million so far and
Australia and Belgium the only major
markets ahead.
Despite
Mexico's $2.1 million in 10 days, The
Princess Diaries couldn't
produce anywhere else. In France it could
only manage $366,000 on 211. In Italy
($279,000 on 173) and Hong Kong ($137,000
on 16) bombed as well. Disney does have
something to forward to as Atlantis:
The Lost Empire eased by just
13% in the U.K.
After
corpsing in Japan, Training Day racked
up a respectable $281,000 on 50 in
Taiwan. On the other hand, the
international box office success Bridget
Jones's Diary took a mild
$181,000 on 48.
Trying
to build up some hype, as it did with Captain
Corelli's Mandolin, BVI released
the Coen brother's new film. The
Man Who Wasn't There materialized
with $601,000 on 140 screens. Next
weekend should be even brighter as the
critics raved, some touting Billy Bob
Thronton worthy of an Academy Award.
Another
"Man" popped into Australia.
Yes, The Man Who Sued God commanded
a merry $770,000 on 226, which puts it in
the box office success's as Chopper,
another recent homegrown film that soared
past $11 million.
Next
weekend, Moulin Rouge ventures
off into Eastern Europe with debuts in
the Czech Republic, Estonia, and
Slovakia. In Australia Glitter,
Hedwig & the Angry Inch,
One Night at McCool's, Town
& Country, and Zoolander
try to tango for the top spot,
which could be won by The Man Who
Sued God again. In Germany, Amores
Perros, Captain
Corelli's Mandolin, and Saving
Silverman battle each other as Bandits
and Swordfish compete
for the top spot. In France America's
Sweethearts pops up on 598
screens against a Japanese production
starring Luc Besson and Jean Reno, French
stars, named Wasabi. It
takes on 584 screens. Osmosis
Jones, The Animal,
The Deep End, and The
Others look for a very healthy
UK box office.
Expect Zoolander
to take about $800,000 against The
Man Who Sued God, which could
come in at around $850,000 in Australia.
In Germany it should be a tight race
between Bandits and Swordfish,
but expect Swordfish to
win with around $2.5 million. In France America's
Sweethearts should come in at
around $2.5 million. In the UK The
Others is prime for 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
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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