Around-the-World Roundup: 'Fifty Shades' Nears $300 Million Overseas
Fifty Shades of Grey held on to first place at the international box office this weekend with $68.1 million.

That's off 56 percent from last weekend, which is a far better that the movie's hold in the U.S. (down 73 percent). To date, it's already earned $280.5 million, which is ahead of Sex and the City and the first Twilight ($263 million and $200 million, respectively).

In the next day or two, it will pass the first Hunger Games movie ($283 million). With South Korea on the way, Fifty Shades could theoretically reach $400 million overseas.

Playing in 53 markets, Kingsman: The Secret Service earned $32.8 million this weekend, which brings its total to $86.4 million. Thanks to the Chinese New Year holiday, the movie jumped 86 percent to $8.9 million in South Korea; it's already earned $17.8 million there, which puts it ahead of all Bond and Bourne movies.

It opened to $3.5 million in France—a very solid result—and scored a huge $3.3 million in Taiwan and $2.2 million in Malaysia. Kingsman expands in to Mexico, Italy and Spain next weekend, then reaches Brazil, Germany and China in March.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water added $21.9 million this weekend, which includes strong openings in Germany ($5.3 million) and France ($3 million). It was less impressive in South Korea, where it opened outside the Top 5 with an estimated $1.4 million. The movie has $76 million in the bank so far, which is more than the 2004 SpongeBob movie earned in its entire run. Next weekend, it expands in to Italy, then reaches the U.K. and Australia around Easter.

American Sniper opened in a handful of major markets this weekend and took in an estimated $20.5 million. It scored the biggest debut ever for director Clint Eastwood in France ($6.1 million), Spain ($3.25 million), Mexico ($2.57 million) and Brazil ($1.8 million), and was also quite strong in Japan ($2.8 million). The movie has now earned over $108 million overseas, and is set to reach Germany on Thursday.

Big Hero 6 has now earned $326 million overseas and $546 million worldwide. It expands in to China on Saturday; as its still doing strong business in a handful of major markets, it's only going to need around $35 million in China to get past $600 million worldwide.

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Forecast

'Fifty Shades' Set to Spank 'Hot Tub' Sequel This Weekend

Last Weekend

'Grey' Makes Green Over Valentine's Day Weekend

This Timeframe in Past Years:

• 2014 -
'LEGO' Obliterates '3 Days,' 'Pompeii'• 2013 - 'Identity Thief' Steals Back the Top Spot on Quiet Weekend

• 2012 - 'Act of Valor' Gets SEAL of Approval

• 2011 - 'Gnomeo' Denied, 'Hall Pass' Ekes Out Modest Victory

• 2010 - 'Shutter Island' Hangs On, 'Cop Out,' 'Crazies' Debut Decently

• 2009 - 'Madea' Gives 'Jonas Brothers' a Lickin'

• 2008 - 'Vantage Point' Angles for Weekend Lead


• 2007 - 'Ghost Rider' Stays in the Saddle

• 2006 - 'Madea' Drags Moviegoers to 'Family Reunion'

• 2005 - 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' Comes Out Swinging at Number One


Related Charts

Weekend Box Office Results

2015 Domestic Box Office