Around the World Roundup: 'Royale' Flush in Second Weekend
by Conor Bresnan

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale

November 27, 2006

Dominating the foreign box office, Casino Royale raked in $64.9 million at 6,458 screens in 50 territories over the weekend, propelling its total to $128.8 million in just two weeks.

James Bond's latest mission opened in 18 countries in Europe, where it's now playing everywhere but Italy, and dominated each one. Germany was the top start with $12.5 million from 1,180 screens. That was a franchise high, and Casino Royale accomplished the same feat in France ($9 million from 792 screens), Spain ($3.8 million from 500) and Denmark ($2.6 million from 101). Stellar debuts were also recorded in Austria ($1.7 million), the Netherlands ($1.7 million), Norway ($1.8 million), Sweden ($2.3 million) and Switzerland ($2.9 million).

Casino Royale's best country, however, continued to be the United Kingdom, where it had a sensational $16.3 million second weekend. It was down 25 percent and, with $53.3 million in the till, it will likely surpass the previous Bond, Die Another Day, by next weekend. Other holdovers weren't as sterling but were strong nonetheless, including Indonesia (down 23 percent for a $1.4 million total), Malaysia (down 37 percent for $1.6 million), Turkey (down 40 percent for $911,591) and Greece (down 38 percent for $2.8 million). In both India and Russia, it tumbled over 55 percent falls, but that was expected considering its high totals, at $6.6 and $8.4 million respectively.

Borat entered some key markets and grossed $15 million, pushing its total to $86 million. The mockumentary headlined Australia with a $4.7 million opening from 292 screens and New Zealand with $612,480 from 50 screens, the best for a comedy all year in each country and even topping The Devil Wears Prada. The picture has held nicely in most countries and has grossed over $40 million in the U.K. alone.

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale

The Departed continued its slow rollout with a solid opening in South Korea. The crime drama ranked first there with $1.7 million there, and also debuted well in Greece ($766,500) and Turkey ($375,000). Overall, it had a $6.8 million weekend for a $79 million total.

Fourth place in the international arena went to Saw III with an estimated $5.6 million from 24 territories. Its best market was a second-place start in France, although final figures weren't yet available. The horror sequel stands at $42.2 million overall.

Rounding out the top five was Open Season, which nabbed $3.9 million for a $76.4 million total. It was a slow weekend for the animated comedy with no market grossing more than $1 million and mediocre openings in Czech Republic ($98,055) and South Africa ($256,506).

Making its foreign debut, Deja Vu grossed $1.1 million in Mexico, a solid number that beat star Denzel Washington's previous movie, Inside Man.

Domestic champ Happy Feet has only opened in Brazil and a few smaller countries, but has been solid everywhere and better than The Polar Express thus far with a $4.6 million tally. Over the weekend, the dancing penguins debuted atop Brazil ($845,000 from 311 prints), Singapore ($685,000), the Philippines ($650,000) and Colombia ($185,000). Next up, the movie has Germany and Italy.

RELATED LINK
• International Box Office Results