Around the World Roundup: 'Ice Age' Enjoys Final Weekend on Top
In its likely final weekend atop the foreign food chain before the opening of Mission: Impossible III, Ice Age: The Meltdown snatched an estimated $25.3 million, moving its total to a mammoth $373.6 million.

On top in Italy, the animated sequel grabbed a superb $4.7 million second weekend from 647 screens, pushing its tally there to $15.1 million. It also remained in first place in France ($38.6 million total), Germany ($51.7 million), the United Kingdom ($45.5 million) and Australia ($15.8 million), although it failed to impress in Japan, grossing just $2.8 million during the lucrative Golden Week holiday through its second weekend there.

Scary Movie 4 nabbed $1 million-plus weekends in three nations: Germany, with a $7.7 million total after a $2.2 million weekend; Italy, growing to $7.8 million after a $2 million weekend; and Mexico, climbing to $3.6 million after a $1 million session. In Russia, Scary Movie 4 has already become the highest grosser of the franchise with $4.4 million through its third weekend. Overall, the spoof comedy notched $9.6 million from 29 territories for a $49.6 million total.

Eight Below continued its progressive rollout with a solid launch in France, making $1.7 million from 500 sites. More good news came from Australia, where the family adventure has grossed $2.2 million after two weekends. Results weren't as impressive in Spain, which netted just $760,000 in its debut. All told, Eight Below added $5 million over the weekend for a $24.3 million total.

The Wild topped Russia with $1.1 million from 240 screens, or about half the size of Madagascar's debut. The animated comedy has made $24.6 million thus far.

Saving some face in the U.K., American Dreamz eased five percent to $907,392 from 356 screens over the weekend for a $3 million total. The satire also premiered in Australia, where it grossed a moderate $498,802 from 145 screens. Dreamz has little playability outside the English-language markets and will struggle to top $15 million overall.

In Japan, V for Vendetta was solid in its second weekend, falling 17 percent from its opening. The dystopian thriller grossed $1.1 million from 245 prints for a $3.9 million total. V continued to play well in France with $3.3 million through two weekends. So far, V has $52.8 million overall after a $4.1 million weekend.

The summer season kicks off next weekend with the arrival of Mission: Impossible III. Expectations are high as the picture opens on one of the most lucrative frames of the year with no competition and after its predecessor was the highest grossing movie of 2000 with $330.5 million. The action starts Wednesday in most markets, and, by the weekend, the movie will have debuted everywhere except Japan (July 8), China (July), Egypt (May 10), India (June 16) and Vietnam (May 26).

NOTE: This report was modified on May 3 to correct an error about The Wild's opening in Russia—it was half the size of Madagascar, not double.