News

Around-the-World Roundup: 'Ice Age,' 'Spider-Man' Open Early Overseas

by Ray Subers
Ice Age: Continental Drift
 

 
July 2, 2012

Continuing in the footsteps of other Summer 2012 movies like The Avengers, Battleship and Prometheus, Ice Age: Continental Drift and The Amazing Spider-Man each opened in a handful of major markets this weekend ahead of their domestic debuts.

Ice Age 4 led the way with $80.3 million, and took first place in all 34 of its markets. Its biggest territories were Mexico with $13.94 million (third all-time), France with $12.5 million (first place for the year), and Brazil with $6.88 million (best ever for a Fox movie). More impressively, though, it set new opening weekend records in Latin American markets Argentina ($4.15 million), Colombia ($3.4 million), Peru ($3.09 million), Central America ($2.1 million) and Chile ($2.17 million). Finally, it had good debuts in Australia ($6.4 million) and Spain ($3.78 million), though in Spain it was probably negatively impacted by Spain's Euro Cup final on Sunday. Continental Drift's predecessor, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, is the highest-grossing animated movie ever overseas with $690.1 million, which is a total Continental Drift will hope to pass eventually.

The Amazing Spider-Man also got off to a strong $51.1 million start, most of which came from mighty debuts throughout Asia. The movie opened stronger than than Spider-Man 3 and The Avengers in South Korea ($13.4 million), and it was also impressive in Japan ($11.4 million). Thanks to the presence of Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, Spider-Man scored the biggest debut ever for a Hollywood movie with $6 million in India. It also had one of the best openings ever in the Philippines ($3.2 million), Hong Kong ($2.7 million), Singapore ($2.9 million) and Thailand ($1.9 million). Outside of Asia, its only major market was Germany, where it netted a comparatively-modest $4.2 million. The Amazing Spider-Man is set to open on Tuesday in the U.S., and it will likely be reaching the rest of its foreign markets over the next week or two.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted added $15.8 million from 44 territories this weekend. Its foreign total reached a robust $244.1 million, and it still has most of its European territories left to launch.

Snow White and the Huntsman earned $14.3 million from 60 territories this weekend, which brings its total to $188.9 million. It added $3.6 million in its second weekend in Australia, which has been one of its strongest markets thanks to star Chris Hemsworth. The movie still has three territories, including Italy, to debut in over the next two months.

MIB 3 grossed another $6.4 million, and has now made an impressive $430.2 million overseas. Add in its domestic tally ($169.6 million), and it's now the highest-grossing entry in the Men in Black franchise on a worldwide basis with just shy of $600 million. Of course, a big part of that is due to a decade of ticket price inflation and the addition of 3D premiums, but it's still a noteworthy accomplishment for the movie.

While domestic champ Ted didn't officially open anywhere overseas this weekend, it did put up some pretty incredible numbers in preview screenings in Australia. The movie grossed $4.5 million from limited shows at 199 locations, which is nearly unpredecented when it comes to previews. It opens officially on Thursday there, then reaches major markets Germany, Russia and the U.K. at the beginning of August.

Other Notables - Weekend Gross - Gross-to-Date (in millions)
Brave - $6.7 - $26.8
Prometheus - $5.8 - $165.9
Abraham Lincoln - $5 - $17.3
Dark Shadows - $4.3 - $152
The Dictator - $3.05 - $89.6
Five-Year Engagement - $1.7 - $12.6
Rock of Ages - $1.4 - $11.2
The Avengers - $1.1 - $841.1

Become a fan of Box Office Mojo on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @boxofficemojo, and follow author Ray Subers at @raysubers.

Related Stories:
Weekend Report: 'Ted' Gets High, 'Mike' Scores
Summer 2012 Foreign Forecast

Related Charts:
2012 Worldwide Grosses
All-Time Worldwide Grosses



RECENT ARTICLES
6/16 Weekend Report: 'Man of Steel' Soars, Scores New June Record
6/13 Forecast: 'Man of Steel' Sets Sights on June Record
6/9 Weekend Report: 'Purge' Kills, 'Fast' Reaches $200 Million
6/6 Forecast: 'Purge,' 'Internship' Fight For First on Quiet Weekend
6/4 May Kicks Off Summer 2013 With Record Grosses
6/2 Weekend Report: 'Fast' Falls, Magicians Make Will Smith Disappear
> MORE: News | Features
LATEST UPDATES
SCHEDULE: 'Out of the Furnace'
MPAA: New Ratings
DAILY: Monday, 6/17 (32 tracked)
SCHEDULE: 'Dolphin Tale 2'
STUDIOS: Market Share (as of Sun.)
ALL TIME: Non-Holiday Mondays
SCHEDULE: Third and fourth 'Amazing Spider-Man' scheduled for 2016, 2018 >
6/18 DVD/Blu-ray Releases
WEEKEND: Actuals (97 tracked)
SCHEDULE: 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For'
WEEKEND: Studio Estimates vs. Actuals
SCHEDULE: 'Are We Officially Dating?'
ALL TIME: Sunday Grosses
SCHEDULE: 'Walk of Shame'
ALL TIME: June Openings
ALL TIME: Summer Openings
ALL TIME: Opening Weekends
FRANCHISES: Superman Openings
BRAND: DC Comics Openings
GENRES: Alien Invasion Openings
GENRES: Superhero Openings
GENRES: Superhero (Origin) Openings
DIRECTORS: Zack Snyder Openings
PRODUCERS: Christopher Nolan Openings
ALL TIME: Biggest Drops - 'The Purge' ranks 26th >
FOREIGN CHARTS >
Netherlands: 'After Earth' in 2nd >
Australia: 'Fast 6' repeats >
Turkey: 'Man of Steel' on top >
South Africa: 'Epic' wins >
New Zealand: 'Gatsby' beats 'After Earth' opening >
Hungary: 'Now You See Me' leads >
Finland: 'After Earth' in 1st >
> MORE UPDATES