Ocean Steals International Box Office Crown Back

January 26, 2005

The International Box Office Race is certainly interesting, as Ocean's Twelve recaptured the lead this weekend with $14.4 million on 4,600 screens in 58 markets and now sits at $170.4 million internationally and $292.8 million worldwide. A large chunk of that total came from Japan, where the film earned $6.8 million (including sneak peaks) on 510 screens, while ending Howl's Moving Castle's nine week reign on top. While this was a strong performance, it was 20% lower that the original's debut in the same market.

The more mature themes in Closer are helping the film in many international markets, so much so that the film came in a close second with $12.9 million on 2066 screens in 21 markets for a $29.8 million running tally. The film debuted in 13 markets including first place finishes in France, ($2.9 million on 325 screens); Spain, ($2.1 million on 265 screens); Brazil, ($795,000 on 180) and Belgium, ($377,000 on 78.) The film also did extremely well in its second weekend in the U.K. increasing by 1% to $3.0 million. However, it is important to note that the film made its Irish debut over the weekend, and that that number is included in the overall U.K. box office. On the other hand, the film dropped 30% in its second weekend in Germany, still a respectable result, but a better indicator of the film's legs.

It was a milestone weekend for Alexander as the film crossed the $100 million plateau over the weekend. Overall the film managed $9.5 million on 2900 screens in 54 markets for $103 million so far. This weekend the film opened with $1.3 million in Australia on 187 screens, good enough for second place and the best per theatre average in the top ten. During its second weekend in Italy the film dropped 30% to $2.7 million, which is high for the market but better than most other major markets.

Massive openings in both Germany and Austria helped Blade: Trinity jump into the top five with $6.888 million on 1600 screens in 14 markets for a $43 million international and nearly $95 million worldwide. In Germany the film opened with an astounding $4.6 million on 524 screens, more than double the second place film. To put this into perspective, the original Blade only earned a total of $12.8 million in the market, and the sequel couldn't even match that. Add in strong performances in Austria, ($873,000 on 86 screens); the German speaking regions of Switzerland, ($414,000 on 46); Holland, ($318,00) and South Africa ($238,000) and the film is well on its way to $100 million internationally.

With $6.6 million dollars, The Aviator was about to grab the final spot in the top five. The film's best performance was its second place, $2.1 million opening in Germany on 305 screens and $318,000 in Austria. The film is also doing well in holdover markets dropping just 7% in the U.K. this weekend, which was its third weekend of wide release and its fifth weekend overall.

Other highlights on the international scene include:

• National Treasure had two number one openings in smaller markets, (Argentina and Malaysia) helping it to $6.1 million over the weekend and $128.5 million internationally.
• The Incredibles may have dropped out of the top five, but it's $5.2 million earnings did help the film hit a major milestone becoming the 25th film to reach $600 milliono worldwide, and just the fourth animated film to do so.
• Meet the Fockers debuted in a handful of markets improving upon last week's figures with $4.6 million on 1000 screens in 10 markets. It's biggest result was $345,000 on 44 screens in the Philippines.
• Thanks to a number of new openings, Elektra earned an estimated $4.4 million in 6 markets over the weekend. It's biggest opening was the $1.5 million, sixth place opening in the U.K., but it placed higher in Mexico, ($893,000 for second place) and South Korea, ($715,000 for fourth place.) On the down side, the film dropped 51% during its second weekend in Australia landing in seventh place.
• No new openings hurt Kung Fu Hustle as the film slipped to $3.0 million on 650 screens in 8 markets for a $58.3 million running tally.
• Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events earned another $2.9 million on 900 screens in 13 markets over the weekend, lifting its international total to $50.4 million so far, almost half of which as come from the U.K. The film did open in first place in Taiwan over the weekend with $500,000 on 56 screens, including sneak peaks.
• Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason continues to wind down its international run taking in $2.5 million over the weekend and just reaching the $200 million milestone.
• Howl's Moving Castle dropped just 6% during its second weekend in France adding $2.0 million to its $4.6 million total in the market. Continuing the comparisons with Spirited Away, that film earned $7.6 million during its total run, a figure Howl's should easily surpass.
• Team America: World Police held up well in the U.K. dropping just 27% to $2.1 million, which was nearly all of its $2.2 million international weekend. After opening in 6 markets, the film had brought in $11.9 million.
• Ray has yet to earn a breakout opening internationally, but in several markets it is showing strong legs in limited release. The film opened well in the U.K. with $912,00 on 224 screens, good enough for seventh place, and had a reasonable $544,000, fifth place opening in Italy on 173 screens. On the other hand, the film did poorly in Argentina, ($18,000 on 18 screens); Finland ($15,000 on 4); Israel ($40,000 on 15 screens) and Norway ($18,000 on 8.) However, very strong holdovers in Germany speaking markets helped the film bring in $2.2 million overall.
• The Grudge opened in Spain with $1.7 million, but this is a bit of a disappointment considering how well horror films usually do in the market. Overall the film as earned $43.8 million in 25 markets.
• White Noise finished third during its third weekend in the U.K. with $1.7 million and now has $10 million in that one market.
• Million Dollar Baby showed some serious legs growing 1% during its second weekend of release in the U.K. The film earned $1.5 million over the weekend and now has $3.9 million in the market.
• Alfie flopped when it opened domestically, so expectations were really lowered for its international run. However, the film appears to be doing slightly better than those lowered expectations this weekend opening in fifth place in Australia with $677,000 on 144 screens, which gave the film the second best per theatre average in the top twenty. In South Korea the film had a similar performance with $344,000 on 70 screens. Overall the film brought in $1.44 million on 440 screens in 17 markets for a $14.5 million running tally.
• SpongeBob Squarepants fell to sixth place during its third weekend in Australia with $655,000. Overall the film pulled in $1.4 million on 850 screen in 7 markets for a $21.5 million international box office.
• Polar Express added $1.3 million to its international box office over the weekend, it now sits at $114.7 million internationally and $275 million worldwide.
• House of Flying Daggers opened in fourth place in Italy with $1.1 million on 251 screens for a $71.4 million international box office.
• The Terminal wraps up its international run adding $1.1 million in just two markets. The film has made $134.8 million internationally and just over $210 million worldwide.
• A Very Long Engagement opened in the U.K. over the weekend but failed to finish in the top ten with $580,000 on 120 screens. On the other hand, the film did much better in both Denmark, ($75,000 on 16 screens) and Finland ($60,000 on 8.) Overall the film brought in $1.0 million lifting its international tally to $40 million.
• Racing Stripes's showing in Australia is being saved by very strong legs. This week the film remained in third place with $890,000, a drop of just 7%. The film has managed $4.6 million there, which is not super strong, but much better than it's start suggested.
• Without A Paddle dropped from third to seventh in Germany dropping 49% to $550,000. The film has earned $1.8 million in the market and roughly $10 million internationally. The lion's share of that figure comes from the U.K., where the film took in another $320,000 this weekend for a $4.6 million total.
• Ladder 49 flopped in its debut in the U.K. with just $800,000 on 332 screens, which was only good enough for only ninth place.
• Andrew Lloyd-Webber's The Phantom of the Opera flopped in France where it missed the top ten with just $600,000.
• After stumbling in its Australian debut last weekend, After the Sunset fell flat on its face falling nearly 50% to just $250,000. Its prospects were no better in Norway were the film could only manage $98,000 on 27 screens.
• It has been a while since The Bourne Supremacy was mentioned on this list. But during the past week the film hit a major milestone reaching $100 million internationally. With just one market left, Japan, the film will need to earn $24 million there to reach $300 million worldwide. It will be tough, but it is doable.
• Raise Your Voice dropped out of the top 10 in Australia again with $173,000 this weekend, but it did hit $2 million during its 4 week run.
• Sideways doesn't open in Australia until tomorrow, but the film has already eared $270,000 in previews.

Source: Variety

Filed under: International Box Office, Meet the Fockers, The Incredibles, The Polar Express, The Bourne Supremacy, National Treasure, Ocean's Twelve, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Grudge, The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie, The Terminal, Ray, Ladder 49, Sideways, Without a Paddle, White Noise, Blade: Trinity, The Phantom of the Opera, Racing Stripes, Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, Alexander, Closer, Team America: World Police, Elektra, Kung Fu Hustle, Alfie, House of Flying Daggers, Raise Your Voice, Un long dimanche de fiançailles, Hauru no ugoku shiro, After the Sunset