Around-the-World Roundup: 'Hobbit' Finale Opens to $122 Million Overseas
A week ahead of its U.S. debut, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies began its international victory lap this weekend.

Playing in 37 markets—and only seven major ones—the finale of Peter Jackson's second Middle Earth trilogy earned a massive $122.2 million. Its top territory was Germany, where its $20.5 million debut was easily the biggest of the year.

It also had huge openings in the U.K. ($15.2 million), France ($15.05 million), Russia ($13.75 million), Brazil ($6.8 million), Mexico ($6.3 million), and New Zealand ($1.8 million). It wasn't particularly impressive in Japan ($2.4 million), though it's rare for a live-action import to do much business there.

Across all of these markets, The Battle of the Five Armies opened above the previous two installments in the Hobbit trilogy. Each of those movies wound up with over $700 million overseas; based on this opening, that seems like a likely outcome for Five Armies as well.

Next weekend, the movie expands in to Italy, Spain and South Korea. It then reaches Australia on December 26th, and finally opens in China in late January.

Exodus: Gods and Kings added $17.8 million, which brings its early total to $49.1 million. It continued to play well in South Korea ($3.1 million) and Mexico ($2.1 million), and had a strong debut in Taiwan ($1.6 million). The movie has yet to open in most foreign markets.

Playing in 86 markets, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 took in $16 million this weekend. It's earned $334.5 million total so far, and still has China and Japan on the way. Thanks to the movie's strong performance, Lionsgate International has now banked over $1 billion in 2014, which is the third year in a row that they reached this milestone.

Penguins of Madagascar grossed $14.6 million in 51 markets, and has now earned $116 million total. Its wrapping up its run in China with over $40 million, which is around $10 million above Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted's total there. The DreamWorks Animation spin-off expands in to France and Mexico next weekend.

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Forecast:

'Exodus' to Reign Supreme at the Box Office This Weekend


Last Weekend

'Hunger Games' Leads One of the Worst Weekends of the Year

This Timeframe in Past Years:

• 2013 - 'Smaug' Sets Fire to Box Office, Misses First 'Hobbit's Mark

• 2012 - 'Hobbit' Takes December Record, Misses $100 Million

• 2011 - Disappointed Debuts From 'Sherlock,' 'Alvin' Sequels

• 2010 - 'Tron' Recycles the Power

• 2009 - 'Avatar' Soars in Debut

• 2008 - 'The Day the Earth' Stalls

• 2007 - 'Legend,' 'Chipmunk' Enliven Box Office

• 2006 - 'Pursuit' Overtakes 'Eragon,' 'Web'

• 2005 - 'King Kong' Mighty But No Monster


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