Around-the-World Roundup: 'Sherlock' Outwits Competition for Third-Straight Weekend
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows led the overseas box office for the third-straight weekend, this time dropping 38 percent to $18.3 million. The movie added $2.5 million in Brazil, and also continued to play well in China (though official numbers aren't available due to Chinese New Year). Distributor Warner Bros. International is reporting that its $261.3 million gross-to-date is tracking 16 percent ahead of the first Sherlock movie in comparable markets. Including its domestic earnings, Game of Shadows has now made over $440 million worldwide, and it's set to open in France on Wednesday.

Coinciding with its domestic launch, Underworld Awakening opened in 36 markets and grossed $15.7 million. A big chunk of that came in Russia, where the movie took first place with $5.8 million. That opening is over seven times the previous series high (Underworld: Evolution), which once again demonstrates the rapid expansion occurring in the Russian marketplace. Awakening also had a decent $1.3 million start in Italy, and took first place in India ($867,000) and Malaysia ($742,000) as well.

With a few major openings, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo held about even with an estimated $15.4 million. The movie had solid first place debuts in France ($3.2 million) and Mexico ($1.2 million), and also continued to play well in Germany (down 31 percent to $2.05 million). Its foreign total has now reached $70.5 million.

French comedy Intouchables continued to play well in Germany, where it was up 28 percent to $6 million. All told, the movie grossed $10.6 million this weekend from six territories for a total of $196.3 million.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol added $9.4 million for a total of $338 million. On Friday or Saturday, the movie passed Mission: Impossible II's $331 million gross to set a new franchise record overseas. It has now made over $539 million worldwide, and will keep up its pursuit of $600 million when it opens in China and Italy this weekend.

Three weeks ahead of its U.S. debut, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island opened to an estimated $8.2 million from six markets. It had a strong $2.7 million start in South Korea, and also snagged $2 million in Australia and $1.1 million in Hong Kong. According to Warner Bros. International, its openings were 50 percent ahead of the original Journey in this set of territories.

After a very solid opening in Australia last weekend, The Descendants expanded in to seven more markets and grossed $6 million. It had a fantastic first place start in Spain ($2.7 million) and was also up 7 percent to $2.5 million in its second weekend in Australia.

Other Notables - Weekend Gross - Gross-to-Date

Alvin and the Chipmunks 3 - $10.1 - $169.3

Puss in Boots - $9.3 - $346

War Horse - $7.3 - $28.8

The Darkest Hour - $5 - $36.6

Jack and Jill - $2.9 - $25.6

We Bought a Zoo - $2.4 - $19

Contraband - $1.6 - $3.6

The Sitter - $1.4 - $1.9

Tower Heist - $1 - $64.8

Domestic Report:

'Underworld' Fends Off Soarin' 'Red Tails'

Last Weekend:

'Sherlock' Cracks Code Again



Related Charts:

• 2011 Worldwide Grosses

• All-Time Worldwide Grosses