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Bewildered in Blightly and astounded in Taiwan was Warner Brothers who carefully lad out advertisements in both countries for these two record-breaking openings. Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone smashed Warner Brothers' record in both territories and crushed the U.K. record completely.

In the U.K., Harry Potter managed £16,266,186 equivalent to about $23.7 million on the widest number of screens and sites at 1,168 and 507 respectively. Without previews Harry Potter managed £9,600,368 or $13,714,811 to easily top the U.K./Ireland Top 10 list by drowning Toy Story 2's £7,758,936 from 496 screens. Pixar's sequel wounded up with £43,451,021 or $68,838,000 for the fifth highest total gross. Harry also grabbed the highest single-day record on Saturday with £3.8 million or $5.7 million. It crushed its own record, which it took on last Saturday's previews (£3.55 million). Sunday's $5.1 million ranks as the third-biggest day ever while Friday took the lowest of the three day's at £2.1 million.

In Taiwan the Chris Columbus-helmed fantasy was nearly as impressive posting a magnificent $2.3 million in two days on 58 screens. That is a local WB record, but the industry's fourth best in Taipei behind The Mummy Returns, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Mission: Impossible 2.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is already combating Mr. Potter. In Denmark, Sweden, and Norway the film has already sold 200,000 advanced tickets. That is a whopping 1% of the population of those countries. In the UK it received PG rating, which means anybody can go see it, certainly puts the pressure back on Harry Potter.

SEE ALL-TIME RECORD CHARTS (including opening weekends for the U.K.) IN THE ALL-TIME SECTION OF BOXOFFICEMOJO INTERNATIONAL.

Where there was no Harry, there was no money. The lineup for last weekend was all films trying to make as much money before Harry showed up. In Germany Legally Blonde took a decent $2.1 million on 413, but Scary Movie 2 plunged 46%, pocketing $7.1 million in 11 days on 671 screens. The Reese Witherspoon starrer did seize pole position in Spain, though, fetching $650,000 on 200. Scary Movie 2 has only mustered $60 million in 42 territories.

Spurred by the late, lusty, bows in Hungary, New Zealand, and Thailand, American Pie 2 topped $100 million, the 18th title to cross that milestone overseas this year.

Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge can-canned into Japan with a measly $962,000 in two days on 240; better than Autumn in New York, but that is nothing to brag about. The tuner's cume has escalated to $98 million and will reach the century mark by the weekend with no more territories to open in.

Bridget Jones's Diary crossed the $200 million mark, peaking at $201 million, being the fourth blockbuster to do so after Pearl Harbor, The Mummy Returns, and Japan's Spirited Away.

Nearing the end of its escapade, A Knight's Tale galloped into France with a pathetic $874,047 from 451 sites. Ma Femme est une Actrice led the parade last weekend with $1,089,743 from 238. A Knight's Tale has a good $54.4 million as it only managed $56.1 million back home.

The Others levitated to around $55 million, driven by the U.K.'s thrilling $10 million and Mexico's $6.8 million.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire sank back into the sea with a groggy $85,000 on 86 screens, but did hold well in Sweden and Denmark, tallying $800,000 and $470,000 respectively. It only has $36.1 million to date.

Next weekend, Harry Potter should really take the World By Storm debuting in 12 territories; Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, South Africa, The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Puerto Rico. In the United Kingdom, Spy Game hopes for half of what Harry Potter gets next weekend as it faces Apocalypse Now Redux and Glitter. In France Tanguy leads the pack releasing on 550 screens while it faces John Carpenter's Ghost of Mars (290), Mulholland Drive (188), and Get Carter (50).

Expect Harry Potter to take the World By Storm breaking records in every territory. In Germany it should come in with around $12 million. In the U.K. Spy Game has a good chance at earning $6 million or so, but Potter should win again with about $10 million. In France expect Tanguy to improve the BO.

These are my predicted foreign totals for the selected films:

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone: $577 million (I'm going out on a limb!)

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

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence: $181 million

Cats & Dogs: $110 million

American Pie 2: $161 million

The Others: $126 million