Around the World Round Up

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was met by many new challengers in the international arena including Catch Me If You Can, 8 Mile, Two Weeks Notice, and Star Trek: Nemesis, which all began there foreign excursions in a dashing style last weekend.

Movie Image The Two Towers, was, however, still the victor hauling in an estimated $42.2m from 7,573 playdates in 35 markets, shooting its total to $293.6m. Overall the sequel is tracking 26% better than the original, which had racked up $232m at the same stage (The Two Towers has opened in a couple of markets earlier than Fellowship though). It continued to lead the U.K. with $9,283,232 (£5,744,170) falling just 29% for a massive total of $61,741,788 (£38,403,392). Other impressive totals include Germany ($52m), France ($28.4m), Spain ($21.6m), and Australia ($15.1m) through only two weeks.

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets came in second, tallying $28.2m for the weekend from 8,000 engagements in 55 countries elevating its total to $519.6m becoming the fifth-highest grosser internationally of all time, leaping past Independence Day's $507m. The film debuted in Poland last weekend because the Christmas holiday is actually one of the worst times of the year there. It kicked off the new year there with a bang, grossing $1.46m in five days on 126 screens, 22% ahead of the original and the industry's second biggest debut behind The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Japan's vacation time did boost Potter's box office results, however, as the film raked in $6.1m over the weekend elevating its total there to a mighty $113.1m. Potter's biggest markets include the UK ($81,671,899), Germany ($57.5m), France ($48.4m), Italy ($22.2m), Spain ($21.9m), Australia ($18.1m), South Korea ($15.7m), Mexico ($15.6m), and Taiwan ($10.2m).

Die Another Day hit $184m, spurred on by an $11.7m frame on 3,820 screens in 53 countries. The newest James Bond flick took an estimated $1.8m in six days on 147 screens in South Korea, 65% of the last two editions at the same time. The film has been hurt by the anti-U.S. sentiment and a row over the way North Koreans are portrayed in the film.

The 007 adventure did set new Bond benchmakrs in New Zealand ($11,000 on 50, Fox's fourth-highest entry) and the Czech/Slovak Republics ($325,000 on 40, a Fox record), Central America, and Egypt.

Movie Image 8 Mile was proved it can be an international blockbuster as well a domestic one. The film topped Germany with an impressive $6.1m debut on 455 prints, the fifth-biggest opening locally for a Universal release). The Eminem starrer also opened in pole position in Australia with $902,000, UIP's third best behind Mission: Impossible II and American Pie 2. 8 Mile was received as well in the Asian markets, where local music is the dominant money generator. The film debuted in Hong Kong ($180,000 on 17) and Taiwan ($157,000 on 52).

Catch Me If You Can hit off its foreign crusade in Mexico to the tune of $2,941,206 on 440 in five days, 54% ahead of Cast Away and the second biggest debut for Steven Spielberg behind The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

The romantic comedy Two Weeks Notice banked $2.8m in five days on 249 in Australia, which was 15% better than that of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and on par with Bridget Jones' Diary.

Movie Image Star Trek: Nemesis focused on its fan base in the U.K. and succeeded in gathering large crowds for a solid debut of $3,147,661 (£1,957,845) on 426 screens.

Minority Report peaked at $210m, fueled by Japan's hefty $31m through its fifth weekend.

Gangs of New York's total in Japan hit $14.3m after three weekends, which is good news for the other Asian markets.

Disney's Return to Neverland cruised to $52m, driven by Japan's $11.6m after it third sojourn, where it's already outgrossed the lifetime cumes of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Hercules, and Pocahontas.

The Hot Chick was cool in Australia, fetching a meager $1m on 145, better than The Animal, but that is certainly not worthy of any bragging rights.

Chicago continued to awe London's West End Theatre grossing $132,338 (£82,314) over the weekend totaling now $438,492 (£272,742).

Movie Image Cidade de deus (City of God) also played well in the United Kingdom, opening at No. 6 with $493,854 (£307,177) on 76 screens, hailed by Miramax as the market's third-highest opening for a foreign-lingo film behind Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Amelie.

Next weekend The Two Towers opens in Hong Kong on Jan. 9 and Bulgaria and Estonia on Jan. 10. Unfaithful and Ghost Ship make their debuts in Japan. Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams opens along with Catch Me If You Can in Australia. Reign of Fire, I Spy, Killing Me Softly, One Hour Photo, and Analyze That make Germany very crowded. Gangs of New York leads the screen count in France with a very promising 785 screens followed by Mr. Deeds (241), 24 heures de la vie d'une femme (197), and Broceliande (132). Gangs of New York also opens in the U.K. aside The Good Girl, The Tuxedo, and a limited release of Ghost Ship.

Gangs of New York should have a phenomenal run in Europe especially in its first two markets, the U.K. and France. Expect the film to have a $5.2 debut in France and a $6.2m opening in the U.K. Catch Me If You Can looks to be gold in Australia with a $2.9m start while Germany is split between the previous two winners, 8 Mile and The Two Towers, and the plethora of openers.

These are my predicted foreign totals for the selected films. (Red is the predicted total while blue is the current gross).

Gangs of New York: This film has everything in it to be a mega-blockbuster performer overseas, where the "R" rating doesn't hurt the box office as much. In Europe it should have excellent runs in the major territories, but mediocre run in the smaller territories. Germany and France could be its highest moneymakers there. Its action-packed premise and ending will lure in Asian audiences where the film should play well above average likely peaking with $6m in South Korea and $4.2m in Taiwan. Latin America will be the tougher sell, but the film should still play wonderfully (in box office terms at least). Look for a total around $256m. $14.3m

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: There's no doubt that this movie will pass its predecessor's $548m international total. Hell, it already has $203m. Numbers continue to pour in that put the sequel higher than the original. Japan could be the real winner, despite the fact that The Fellowship grossed only $71m. (I say only in the fact that it was beaten by Harry Potter, A.I.: Artificail Intelligence, and Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones). Look for The Two Towers to cross the century mark there thanks to heavy DVD/VCD sales in that market of the original film. I expect The Two Towers to gross $701m through its entire run. $293.6m

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets: Record numbers are already rolling in and expect this trend to continue. Obviously the drops will be more substantial than The Sorcerer's Stone, but the word-of-mouth leaves me wondering if this could be the first major sequel* to perform better than its predecessor internationally. My rational answer would be no, but my gut feeling tells me to go the other way and vote yes. The Chamber of Secrets is benefiting heavily, as did The Sorcerer's Stone, from staggered entrances (aka: it opened in United Kingdom last week, but doesn't open in France until December 5). This is a smart move by Warner Brothers because it puts the opening one weekend before designated holidays thus maximizing its box office potential. Some films, like Attack of the Clones, went all out without waiting for the big box office weekends. Look for The Chamber of Secrets to take in $674 million. *=By major sequel I mean a film that had grossed $300 million from its original. $510m

Die Another Day: This movie is getting fantastic publicity all over the glob thanks to superb marketing schemes that pulled in all types of sponsors and weighed heavily on the action. This will be another box office winner, but it may have a chance to pass Goldeneye's $244.9 million international haul, becoming the highest internationally grossing Bond film. All signs point to yes so Die Another Day should grab around $289 million. $184m

My Big Fat Greek Wedding: This film was able to top Red Dragon in Australia...now that's impressive. It has already grossed $16 milllion in the U.K. and will surely continue climbing. It has also broken the language barrier grossing $2.8 million in Greece, over $1 million in Switzerland, and $500,000+ in Israel. This film will open well and hold well in all international territories unless it stumbles in Asia. Either way Greek Wedding has set up an opportunity to cross the century mark internationally. It could end up with $111 million and may get crazy and top $200 million. Who knows with this film. American word-of-mouth has really streched across the seven seas and reviews have never been better. Release dates: November 29 - Spain; December 6 - Italy; December 12 - Mexico; January 23 - Germany. $53,403,604

Red Dragon: It is not looking so hot. It has stumbled in the U.K., Taiwain, and now Australia. Don't expect it to gain ground anywhere as Hannibal seemed to leave a sour taste in everyone's mouth. It's strongest markets should be in Germany, Japan, and France. It could peter out to $117 million a far cry from Hannibal's $184.8 million. $93,386,792

The Bourne Identity: Grosses have started to fall so it looks now like The Bourne Identity will likely cross the century mark and then quickly come to a hault with $104 million. $77,033,238

Road to Perdition: Judging from returns in Mexico and Germany Perdition may have some trouble crossing the century mark. It should do well in the Asian markets and I'm surprise it isn't performing as well in Europe. Perhaps it will pick up steam with word-of-mouth, but for now it looks like it's headed for $79 million although a strong showing from Japan could push that up past $150 million. Strongest markets should be: Japan, UK, South Korea. Release dates: December 13 - Italy $67.6 million

Signs: M. Night Shyamalan's movies have been extremely bankable in the international market. Both The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable out did their domestic totals, grossing $379.3 million and $154.5 million each respectively. Unbreakable was particularly strong in the U.K. ($16.5 million), Germany ($13.4 million), France ($17.1 million), and Japan ($24.5 million). Look for Signs to improve on those numbers. Those markets plus Australia should be the highlights of Signs' run. It could finish with around $221 million. $179,949,000

Austin Powers in Goldmember: Its UK opening was spectacular, but still not as good as in the states, comparatively speaking. The Spy Who Shagged Me only grossed $104.9 million with $41.3 million of that being for the U.K. alone. Australia and the United Kingdom are its key markets, but in the non-English speaking territories, Austin Power's mojo fails. Other than Germany, Austria, and Mexico it will have problems, especially in France, Spain, Italy, and Japan. It will probably perform better than its predecessor's, but not by much at $137 million. $79,528,426

Stuart Little 2: The film regained some strength in both Japan and the U.K. and has done well ever since. It should end up with $98 million. $101.3m

Minority Report: Not a great start in Australia, but I suspect business for Spielberg's latest should pick up there. Elsewhere I believe Minority Report has clear sailing. It could grab $30 million from the U.K. and about $15-$20 from France. In Germany I expect about $35 million and Japan should easily be its biggest. Look at A.I. It grabbed a $12 million opening for a total of $71 million and that was dispite lackluster performace elsewhere. Tack on what many believe a better movie (I myself do not) it could gross $85 million. I predict $270 million for I grand total. Release dates: December 7 - Japan. $210 million

Lilo & Stitch: The newest animated film from Disney is getting more release dates closer the domestic preem. Unlike previous Disney cartoon's (Atlantis, Tarzan) Lilo will open in most of Europe, with the exception of Scandinavia and the UK, in July. The only direct competition there is Spirit, but it should open at least three weeks before or after Stitch. I like this move by Disney. There's a lot more money to be made in the Summer than in November for animated films. In France look for about $26 million (Atlantis grabbed in $22 million). In Germany look for around $18 million and the UK about $36 million. In Japan I expect $26 million. All tolled the film should be very prosperous with $115 million. Release dates: March 8 - Japan. $99,001,075

Scooby-Doo: It is doing surprisingly well overseas. Look for about $131 million in its entire run. Its strongest markets should be Germany, Mexico (by far), and Brazil. It has had great starts in all Latin American markets. $122.1m

The Sum of All Fears: The Asian markets are doing well and those should be its strongest performers. It opens in late July and August in most of Europe, which is very smart I might add and should be the best international performer of the Jack Ryan series. It could grab $115 million with its strongest markets in Japan, the U.K., and Taiwan. $74,668,503

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron: Althought its picking up steam in France, thanks to school holidays, the film will finish with around $61 million. Release Dates: Italy (Dec. 20), Japan, Poland (Oct. 18), Bulgaria, and Russia ahead. $42,334,293

About a Boy: $101 million - $87,996,583

*Numbers are changed whenever a market produces unexpected numbers.

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