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November 2-4, 2001
(Grosses in millions)

Rank

Title

Weekend Gross

Theater Count

Territory Count

Total Gross

1

American Pie 2

$8.4

2,293

18

$87.5

2

The Others

$7.0

1,200

11

$36.1

3

America's Sweethearts

$5.2

2,930

44

$44.7

4

Swordfish

$4.6

1,285

30

$60.0

5

Moulin Rouge

$4.0

1,840

25

$87.7

Around the World Round Up
by Kenan Bresnan

Overseas business was as usual as ever. The Others, Scary Movie 2, American Pie 2, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence led the pre-Harry Potter market into familiar territory. Tagging on for the ride was newbie Bandits as well as Swordfish, Cats & Dogs, America's Sweethearts, and Evolution.

Setting the pace for the fifth week in a row, American Pie 2 is showing off its legs in Germany, France, and the UK along with opening in Hong Kong & Italy. Totaled, the Universal laffer grabbed $9.4 million from 2,293 engagements in 18 countries, hoisting its foreign tally to $87.4 million. In Italy, the J.B. Rogers helmer cooked up $2.4 million on 251 screens in just five days, which is 120% better than the original. It proved its not just a European wonder by taking a dandy $320,000 on 28 in Hong Kong.

Remarkably, the Yank laffer ruled for its third consecutive time in France. American Pie 2 took $2,728,851 in five days last weekend, falling a nice 24% ahead of a France/Japan co-production entitled Wasabi. It could only manage $2,602,782 from 583. Not the figure distributor, Europa Distribution, was looking for. Under those two was a fantastic 25% drop from A.I. and America's Sweethearts that could only manage $1,688,404 from 592 screens.

In Brazil, Mexico, and the United Kingdom Nicole Kidman conjured up some blockbuster-like numbers with her movie The Others. The film scored a gigantic $2.7 million on 259 screens in five days in Mexico, a local record for a Miramax release, beating last year's Scary Movie. In the United Kingdom the film managed a great $3,296,190 from 385 screens where it should slowly climb down the ladder to about $17 million. And in Brazil, the ghost story scored Miramax's second-best opening of the year with $854,000 on 251. Adding lucrative holdover business in Spain, Italy, and Argentina, the film has reached a lucious $40 million.

Spain broke into a devilish laugh with Scary Movie 2. The film commanded pole position with $3 million in five days on 217 screens, Miramax's highest bow ever there, crushing its predecessor. The horror spoof also ruled in Portugal, amassing a fabulous $290,000 on 56. From 35 territories, its cume has climbed to $45.9 million.

Logging on to its last major markets, Swordfish led the field in a subdued weekend in Germany, notching $1.8 million on 570, including previews. In Austria the film grabbed the first position with a great $267,225 from 60. On the other side of the world it was a similar story. In Japan, the film jumped into second place behind the unforgettable local champ Spirited Away whit $1.8 million on 237. The John Travolta/Hugh Jackman starrer's cume topped $60 million on its way to about $70 million, about the same as its domestic cume of $69.8 million.

Nearing the end of its bountiful international escapade, Cats & Dogs hit $96 million, thanks to Italy's decent $1.4 million from 281 screens and Japan's solid $6.2 million through its third outing.

In its final stops of the international market, Evolution fetched a fair $1 million on 300 in Mexico and a mediocre $1.5 million on 257 in Japan. Eclipsing the State's $38.3 million, the sci-fi comedy now has $52.7 million in the foreign market.

Driven by Russia's excellent $357,000 opener on 40 and France's handy $6.1 million in 12 days, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence has been levitated to $151.4 million with only small territories left in Eastern Europe.

Domestic loser Bandits didn't do any better in Germany where its crashed at number 6 with a measly $933,000 on 352. The Bruce Willis/Billy Bob Thornton starrer also grabbed $204,708 on 59 in Austria, a tad bit better than in Germany.

After corpsing in Italy and Hong Kong, The Princess Diaries redeemed itself with a top-ranked finish in Singapore. It conjured up $278,000 on 29 screens over the weekend.

Next weekend Moulin Rouge lands in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Romania, Slovenia, and Turkey. In France The Musketeer, titled D'Artagnan in its co-produced country, grabs a decent 363 screens ahead of C'est La Vie (290), Training Day (250), and The Man Who Wasn't There (157). The Others is the sole wide release in Australia next weekend. While in Germany The Man Who Wasn't There and Scary Movie 2 are the only domestic releases in a drought-stricken box office. Kiss of the Dragon, The Body, and Strictly Sinatra go one-on-one in the UK.

Look for a toss-up in France, its anyone's game. In Germany Scary Movie 2 should move to the top of the pack with about $2 million. In Australia The Others could coin about $2 million for an obvious first place finish. And in the UK, the mediocre-BO films try from fifth place as the UK gets ready for the first installment Harry Potter.

These are my predicted foreign totals for the selected films:

Atlantis: The Lost Empire: $78 million

The Princess Diaries: $71 million

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: $141 million

Swordfish: $85 million

Shrek: $259 million

Bridget Jones's Diary: $171 million

Moulin Rouge: $82 million

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence: $181 million

Cats & Dogs: $110 million

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within: $101 million

Planet of the Apes: $210 million