Around-the-World Roundup: 'Tintin' Animates Overseas Box Office
A full two months ahead of its U.S. opening, The Adventures of Tintin debuted across much of Europe and easily took the top spot at the foreign box office this weekend. Tintin wasn't the only movie impressing in its overseas opening: Bollywood movie RA One set a new weekend record in India, while Puss in Boots had a monster debut in Russia.

Steven Spielberg's Tintin opened to $56.1 million in 19 territories, though over half of that came from France and the United Kingdom. In France, where the Tintin comic books are essential reading for children, the movie earned a whopping $21.9 million through its first five days. That's the top opening ever for a non-sequel in France. Its $10.4 million debut in the U.K. wasn't as astonishing, though it's still a very strong start there. It also impressed in author Herge's native Belgium, where it earned $2.2 million.

Across other major European markets, the movie tallied solid numbers in Spain ($6.6 million) and Germany ($4.6 million) though it was unremarkable in Italy ($1.3 million). Next weekend, Tintin expands in to Russia and a handful of smaller Eastern European and Middle Eastern territories.

Superhero movie RA One, featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, debuted to $33.4 million overseas. The majority of that came in India, where it set the new opening weekend record with $28.3 million. It also set the Diwali record when it opened on the holiday, which fell on Wednesday, October 26 this year.

Puss in Boots snatched up $17.2 million from just three markets, though most of that was from an enormous $15.1 million debut in Russia. Distributor Paramount Pictures International is reporting that it's a record for an original animated movie, though it's debatable if a prequel/spin-off technically qualifies as "original."

Last weekend's winner Paranormal Activity 3 dipped to fourth place with an estimated $16.6 million from 48 markets. Its top holdover was the U.K. with $3 million followed by France with $2 million, and its set to expand in to Japan and Germany this coming weekend. Through two weekends in theaters, the found footage horror three-quel has grossed $54.1 million.

While In Time only wound up with middling results domestically this weekend, it had a solid $15.4 million launch in 34 overseas territories. Its highest-grossing market was Russia with $5 million, and it opened in first place in Australia with $2.6 million. Other major markets included South Korea ($1.7 million) and Taiwan ($1.1 million), though the overwhelming majority of its markets were smaller ones. The Justin Timberlake-Amanda Seyfried sci-fi thriller expands in to the U.K., Brazil, Mexico and India this weekend.

Real Steel added another $12.2 million from 34 markets to bring its foreign total to a very respectable $108 million. Its top territory was France, where it dipped just 15 percent to $2.3 million, and it also earned another $1 million in Brazil. The movie has now made over $182 million worldwide, and with an opening in Germany this weekend it's poised to join the $200 million club in the near future.

While it's quickly disappearing from the domestic box office, Johnny English Reborn extended its impressive overseas run this weekend with a $12.1 million haul. That brings its total to $123.9 million, and it should pass the first Johnny English's $132.5 million total sometime next weekend.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes had its last major opening, and it was a big one: the prequel debuted to $9 million in China for an overall weekend gross of $10.4 million. On a worldwide basis, Apes has now made an outstanding $453 million.

Contagion added $8.5 million for a foreign total of $36 million. It held particularly well in the U.K., where it dipped a light 28 percent to $1.7 million.

Domestic Report:

'Puss' Purrs Softly

Last Weekend:

'Paranormal Activity 3' Haunts Foreign Charts



Related Charts:

• 2011 Worldwide Grosses

• All-Time Worldwide Grosses