Around the World Roundup: 'Da Vinci' Dominates Again
Foreign and domestic audiences parted ways again. The Da Vinci Code, though faded stateside, maintained its strength overseas and claimed its third No. 1 weekend in a row. X-Men: The Last Stand has been softer internationally than in North America, and, instead of a shipwreck, Poseidon saw smooth sailing.

The Da Vinci Code dominated the globe with a $51.4 million weekend from 11,607 screens, down 44 percent for a whopping $408.8 million total. The thriller had one debut, in the United Arab Emirates, where it was a resounding No. 1 with $682,737 from 34 screens, despite Muslim and Christian outrage leading nearby nations like Pakistan and Sri Lanka to ban it.

In Italy, Da Vinci Code fell just three percent, nabbing $5.8 million from 894 screens over the country's Republic Day holiday weekend, tallying $31.8 million. It also topped Germany with $6 million for a $37.7 million total, Japan with $6.1 million for a $46.5 million total and Spain with $3.4 million for a $25.5 million total.

Da Vinci Code, however, dove 61 percent in China to a second-place $1.1 million from 393 screens for a $12.5 million total. It continued to reign over X-Men: The Last Stand in Australia ($15.1 million total) and the United Kingdom ($45.4 million total) while slipping to third place in Mexico ($15.8 million total).

X-Men: The Last Stand fell 54 percent over the weekend to $33.5 million for a $135.5 million total. Thus far, the action sequel is performing better than its two predecessors but worse than a standard action movie of this caliber.

The mutants took a sizeable 61 percent hit in the U.K. to $4.4 million for a $26.1 million total. It also collapsed in France, falling 67 percent to $3.5 million for a $15.2 million total. It showed better stamina in Mexico (down 47 percent), Spain (down 48 percent), Germany (down 55 percent) and Australia (down 57 percent).

X-Men: The Last Stand capitalized on Italy's holiday weekend, easing 13 percent to $2 million for a $5.4 million total. Brazil also saw a decent hold, off 37 percent for a $6.9 million total.

Poseidon remained outstanding in Asia, and ten major-market debuts helped it yield $23.7 million over the weekend for a $34.9 million total, well on its way topping its disappointing domestic take.

In South Korea, Poseidon posted distributor Warner Brothers' fourth best opening ever, $6.2 million from 255 prints, beating past hit Troy by 75 percent. The disaster picture dazzled in China with a first-place $3 million debut from 369 prints, while Hong Kong was in the same league with $817,000 from 24 prints. It wasn't as hot in Japan with a solid $2.7 million from 401 prints.

In Europe, Poseidon's reception was cooler than Asia but good nonetheless. It opened in third place in the U.K. with $2.5 million from 428 situations. It was a tad better in Italy with a second-place $2.1 million from 357 prints. In Mexico, Poseidon came in second with $2.7 million from 504 prints, opening to more than what The Perfect Storm and Armageddon did in their days.

United 93 had a decent weekend, led by the U.K.'s $1.1 million start from 276 screens. The Sept. 11 drama eclipsed expectations in Germany ($871,829 from 195) and Austria ($216,403 from 41), and its overall weekend tally came to $2.3 million.

RV's foreign premiere was so-so. In Australia, the family comedy was in accordance with expectations with a fifth-place $734,750 from 181 screens. However, in Italy, it grossed a soft $239,148 from 94 screens. The Robin Williams vehicle also played in smaller markets to generally low returns, highlighted by Slovenia's $23,135 from 6 screens.

Also making its international debut was A Prairie Home Companion. The musical comedy opened in Italy, one week ahead of the United States, but was nothing special with $521,630 from 115 screens.

Over the Hedge doubled its international total with a Madagascar-like opening in Russia. The animated comedy grabbed the market with $3.3 million from 400 screens, topping Madagascar by four percent. Overall, Hedge has made $5.7 million thus far.

Meanwhile, Mission: Impossible III had a $6.6 million weekend, pushing its total to $192.9 million.