June 7-9, 2001

Around the World Round Up
by Kenan Bresnan

Launching in 10 more foreign markets, Pearl Harbor propelled to $46 million in 10 days after its initial international opening. It set a bountiful number of records for BVI and continued to beat BVI's 1998 winner, Armageddon.

In the United Kingdom, Pearl Harbor, despite being hit by terrible critic reviews, surprisingly only fell a very good 35 percent. The bad news is, that in two weekends, the Michael Bay directed film only has $8.8 million which is only 5% ahead of The Mummy Returns' opening weekend number.

In five days, Pearl Harbor took a reasonable $3.5 million from 771 screens in France, which is 20% below Armageddon, but a smidge higher than The Mummy Returns. BVI executive Anthony Marcoly said, "Early June is a tough time to release a movie like this in that country. Our Paris office says it's playing very solidly and we expect a good hold." That has held true for the past five years. No films, until 2001, had ever had a $3 million opening week from June 1-15 and all those films have had a good run, such as France's Jet Set which opened to $2.2 million and collected, in total, $10 million. The Mummy Returns opened to $3.9 million, although it was release on May 31st. That number fell 30% the next week, but that was mainly because of a holiday. In every country, Pearl Harbor has either fell slightly or reasonably, so it should drop about 30% in France where the critics were kinder.

Australia's $3.5 million on 411 also beats Armageddon, thanks largly to the Queen's Birthday five-day weekend. In the smaller markets, Pearl Harbor did outstanding. In Belgium, the film grabbed $850,000 on 92. New Zealand took $375,000 on 60, The Philippines' bought $1 million worth of tickets on just 36, Swizterland took $825,000 on 76 and Austria took $725,000 on 86, all above Armageddon's opening numbers.

It looks now like Pearl Harbor will beat Armageddon's European and Asian (excluding Japan) numbers because it fell only 15% in Korea ($5.6 million total), 30% in Italy ($5 million), and 26% in Brazil ($2.2 million). Armageddon took a grand total of $352.7 million overseas, but that was largely due to the second highest Japanese total in history, behind Titanic. The Ben Affleck starrer took a whopping $140 million there. Pearl Harbor opens in Japan on July 14th and that should tell us weather BVI's $200 million project makes money or loses money.

Speaking of Japan, The Mummy Returns grabbed the top spot, unwrapping an estimated $2.1 million in two days on 52 screens in the nine key cities. That puts is at about a $7 million dollar nationwide opening.

After taking $53.2 millin (and still going) in the United Kingdom, Bridget Jones's Diary ventured off into other foreign markets. In Spain, it took pole position with a very good $786,000 on 227, and in The Netherlands, it ranked first with $416,035 in four days. With previews that puts it at $455,378.

Moulin Rouge is having wonderful legs in Australia where it increased 11 percent in its sophomore session. Also helped by the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend, State & Main did crack the Top 10 at the eighth spot with a heavty $95,491 on 19. Also in Australia, Shrek took the third spot and $1 million on 301 from previews alone! Altough previews' numbers has never meant what happens on the opening weekend, it still means Shreak will open on 301 or more and already have $1 million in its pocket.

Exit Wounds also had a very strong opening in The Netherlands. It placed third, behind Bridget and The Mummy Returns with $162,521 on 45. In Taiwan it now has $971,000 in just nine days. Shrek had a wonderful debut in Singapore, where it took $430,202. In Taipei, Angel Eyes opened to a pleasing $90,000 on 12 screens.

Next week, Josie & the Pussycats makes its offshore debut in Australia along with The House of Mirth and Sugar & Spice. A local French movie, HS Hors Service opens on 314 screens, followed by Les Portes de la Gloire on 212 in France. In the United Kingdom, Say It Isn't So, Autumn in New York, Before Night Falls, and Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000 all open. In Germany Say It Isn't So opens along with plenty of limited release films. And The Wedding Planner tries to fight off second-week films like The Mummy Returns and Miss Congeniality in Japan.

It looks like The Mummy Returns and Pearl Harbor get another free week where they can sweep the world with first and second place. The only place where it is possible a film could take over is France. Local hits are always difficult to tell how they will perform.

Check out the France Forecast