Around the World Roundup: 'Casino' in Control Again
Spending its third weekend atop the foreign box office, Casino Royale earned $43.7 million from 55 territories, pushing its total to a smashing $195.6 million. Given the far-reaching appeal of James Bond and the lack of significant direct competition, the franchise's 21st installment is poised to lead for several more weeks—December's only worldwide launch will be Eragon.

Breaking the weekend down, Casino Royale became the highest grossing Bond picture in the United Kingdom. It grossed $10.5 million there, lifting its total to a mammoth $70.7 million, and it's already the second biggest movie of the year there.

Debuting in Japan, Casino Royale stumbled a bit, making $3.2 million from 443 screens for second place in the market. It was shy of Die Another Day's opening, even though Casino has generally crushed that movie's start elsewhere. Casino's other openings were more in line with its previous potency, including Kenya's $59,403 from 8 screens, Nigeria's $44,016 from 4 and South Africa's $508,899 from 77.

Outside of the U.K., Casino Royale's hefty tallies include Germany's $24.2 million, France's $15.6 million and Russia's $9.6 million, but it has been particularly impressive in Scandinavia. Denmark, Norway and Sweden added more than $1 million each for the weekend for respective totals of $5.5 million, $3.7 million and $5.1 million. In Finland, Casino is even running ahead of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King's mark through the same point with $2.1 million.

Casino Royale has yet to open in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong, South Korea and Italy, among other nations.

Flushed Away widened to 23 territories over the weekend and snared $14 million, increasing its total to $24.1 million. In the U.K., Aardman Animations' newest picture, though, started well below their last picture, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, with $5.9 million from 464 screens. Other openings were behind Wallace too, including France's $2.8 million and Spain's $1.9 million. Like most animated pictures, however, Flushed Away was strong in Poland with $509,501 from 67 screens.

The Departed's slow rollout has helped it stay in the international top five for a while. Ranking third, the crime drama grabbed $8.7 million for a $90.5 million total. It resonated in France to the tune of $4.2 million from 649 screens, which was bigger than past adult action pictures like The Bourne Supremacy and Collateral. Next weekend, The Departed hits Germany.

Falling to fourth, Borat nabbed $8.6 million from holdover markets for a $96.8 million total. The mockumentary won't likely grow much until January, when it strikes Latin America.

Happy Feet climbed to fifth place with $7.3 million from 18 markets. The animated comedy opened in two major markets. In Italy, it landed in second place with $1.9 million from 565 screens, which was higher than both Wallace and Gromit and The Polar Express there. The reception was cooler in Germany, where it made $1.5 million from 770 screens. Happy Feet's overall tally is $12.9 million, and, next weekend, it invades Mexico, Spain and the U.K.

Stranger Than Fiction kicked off its overseas campaign with a disappointing stop in the U.K. The Will Ferrell comedy captured $730,287 from 186 screens, which was the actor's worst start in recent memory.

Meanwhile, Deja Vu set new high openings for star Denzel Washington in Spain ($2.4 million), Malaysia ($330,000) and Taiwan ($100,000), and the thriller led each market. Early in its run, its tally is $5.6 million.

In Mexico, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause delivered a franchise best $1.4 million debut. The Christmas comedy earned $4.1 million over the weekend for a $10.4 million cumulative.

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• International Box Office Results