Around the World Roundup: 'At World's End' Rules in Third Weekend
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End ruled the foreign box office in its third weekend, raking in an estimated $51.3 million. With $493.5 million total, the supernatural swashbuckler is tracking ahead of Spider-Man 3 through the same point.

In Japan, At World's End crossed the $50 million mark, a feat that took Spider-Man 3 three weeks longer to reach, and is on pace to catch up to predecessor Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest's $84.5 million final tally there. In India, though, Spider-Man 3 dwarves Pirates in the 2007 box office race. In its second weekend there, At World's End tumbled 58 percent to $835,852 for a $4.2 million total, while Spider-Man 3 climbed to $15.5 million through six weeks.

Elsewhere, At World's End's reign over Scandinavia continued. In Denmark, it still leads the country despite the arrival of Ocean's Thirteen and it's by far the highest-grossing movie of the year. Sweden's $7.7 million, Norway's $5.6 million, Finland's $2.7 million and Iceland's $625,088 are also phenomenally high tallies.

Second place over the weekend went to Ocean's Thirteen, which bagged $28 million from 30 markets. Results were lower than Ocean's Twelve but still good. In the United Kingdom, the caper grossed $6 million off 699 prints, nearly double the opening of Music and Lyrics. In Germany, it didn't unseat Pirates but still grossed a solid $4 million from 768 prints, and it was tops in Spain ($3.1 million), Italy ($2.3 million) and Taiwan ($786,000). Ocean's Thirteen has many major markets ahead, including Australia and South Korea on June 14, but will likely fall well below Ocean's Twelve's $237.2 million final tally.

In third place, Shrek the Third nabbed $25.1 million from 21 markets for a $54.6 million total. In South Korea, the animated sequel grabbed a smashing $11.1 million from 555 screens, nearly doubling Shrek 2 and almost quadrupling the first Shrek. It was the largest opening ever for an animated picture there and even topped Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest by 68 percent. Elsewhere, Shrek the Third mainly played in smaller markets but also opened in Australia with an impressive $8.7 million from 276 screens, which was slightly less than Shrek 2.

Spider-Man 3 landed in fourth place internationally with a $6.3 million weekend for a $538.2 million total. Japan was the superhero sequels only $1 million territory and, having accumulated $54.3 million, the movie will soon become the highest grosser of its series there.

Fifth place overseas went to a South Korean picture, Hwang Jin Yi, which disappointed opposite Shrek the Third in its native market, opening to $4.9 million from 489 screens.

Meanwhile, two pictures opens in a few key markets day-and-date with their domestic releases. Surf's Up made $1.9 million from 340 screens in Russia, which was less than both Open Season and Flushed Away. It also debuted in the Ukraine to $171,608 from 59 screens.

Hostel Part II bombed overseas. In Australia, the horror sequel opened to half of its predecessor with $315,328 from 98 screens, and it slouched in Argentina ($93,076 from 28), Uruguay ($6,252 from 3) and Slovakia ($4,127 from 6).

Meet the Robinsons resurfaced over the weekend to dismal results. In Italy, the animated comedy opened to just $329,647 from 219 screens, while the Philippines ($126,867 from 60 screens) and Romania ($4,620 from 5 screens) were worse. In Poland, a strong market for animation, it dove 82 percent for a $966,107 total. All told, the picture has made an estimated $53 million and has France, Japan and Scandinavia still ahead.

RELATED LINKS

• Foreign Weekend Box Office Results

• International Box Office Home Page