Around the World Roundup: 'Spider-Man 3' Sticks to the Top
Spider-Man 3 led the foreign box office again with $50.5 million over the weekend, down 40 percent. With $466.5 million in the till, it became the highest grossing picture of its franchise overseas.

Breaking Spider-Man 3's weekend down, France was its top market. The superhero sequel dropped a mere four percent there, making $7.3 million for a $47.1 million total. In neighboring Germany, it was almost as impressive, easing 19 percent to $3.7 million for a $25.7 million total. In Belgium, it grew 12 percent for a $4.3 million total while in the Netherlands it fell just 3 percent for a $3.3 million total.

Across the globe, Spider-Man 3 snared $3.8 million in Japan, off 24 percent for a $43.6 million total. However, it fell hard in South Korea, down 56 percent for a $31 million total, and in the Russian markets. Against Shrek the Third's opening, Spider-Man 3 tumbled 80 percent in Russia and 91 percent in the Ukraine.

In Russia, Shrek showed who was king with a record-breaking $11.7 million debut from 445 screens. The computer-animated comedy beat Spider-Man 3's start by 52 percent and topped Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest as well. Shrek the Third also opened in the Ukraine with $1.1 million, the territory's second largest debut ever, and Romania with $120,000, which was the highest-grossing start ever for an animated picture. In the Philippines, the movie excelled with $965,081 from 155 screens, almost matching Shrek 2's final total. Overall, Shrek the Third notched $13.8 million for the weekend, and it's set to roll out nearly everywhere in June.

Debuting in 17 markets, Zodiac looked more impressive than its domestic run with a $9.5 million weekend, ranking third internationally. In France, where the thriller premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is in contention for the Golden Palm, it nabbed $3.3 million from 376 prints, ranking second. Spain's $1.4 million from 190 prints and Australia's $944,000 from 182 screens were also good, but the United Kingdom and Italy weren't as solid, with $1.6 million from 190 and $874,000 from 223 respectively. Zodiac will hit more markets in June.

Estimates pegged Next at fourth place with $4.1 million for a $24.5 million total. In South Korea, the action thriller's $1.8 million opening from 157 screens was higher than Ghost Rider's earlier this year.

Fracture appears to have placed fifth with $3.5 million for a $16 million total. The thriller remained strong in France with a $2.1 million weekend, down six percent for a $4.9 million total. It also opened well in Germany ($1.2 million from 204 screens), the Netherlands ($298,830 from 51) and Turkey ($171,349 from 49).

28 Weeks Later grossed an estimated $3 million from 13 territories for a $10.3 million total. The horror sequel was off 44 percent in the U.K. to $1.8 million for a $6.7 million total, but dipped 30 percent in Australia. It also debuted in Thailand to $241,719 from 61 screens.

Rising again overseas, Stomp the Yard bagged two solid openings for a $2.3 million weekend and $8.3 million total. In France, the dance drama snatched $1.4 million from 165 screens, ranking fourth and doubling the opening of You Got Served. In Germany, Stomp grossed $786,705 from 150, also ranking fourth.

RELATED LINKS

• Foreign Weekend Box Office Results

• International Box Office Home Page