Around-the-World Roundup: 'M:I-4' Holds On Overseas
Along with claiming first place at the domestic box office, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol maintained its grip on the foreign charts as well over Christmas weekend.

The fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise cashed out an estimated $45.8 million from 47 markets, which includes first place openings in Brazil ($2.75 million including previews) and Mexico ($2.5 million). Its top markets, though, were impressive holdovers South Korea (down 18 percent to $9.15 million) and Japan (off 15 percent to $6.2 million). Adding in Monday's figures, the movie has earned $156.7 million overseas, and appears well-positioned to ultimately pass Mission: Impossible III's $263.8 million.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows wound up in second place this weekend with $22 million from 25 markets. It opened in first place in Germany ($2.7 million) and Taiwan ($2.1 million), and also had a solid start in South Korea ($3.7 million). Through Monday, the sequel has earned $49 million overseas, and it's set to expand in to Russia and Mexico this weekend.

Puss in Boots took third place with $16.4 million in 42 territories. It added $2.4 million in its second weekend in Italy, and its foreign total currently sits at an impressive $222.5 million.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked added $16.3 million for an early total of $37.8 million. The third Alvin movie debuted to $4.6 million in France, which is up from the previous Alvin movie, and opened to $1.4 million in Germany (down from The Squeakquel). Chipwrecked should at least hold steady next weekend when it expands in to Russia and Australia.

Ahead of the actual holiday, the movie New Year's Eve moved in to a handful of major markets and earned $10.2 million. It had its best debut in Japan ($2.1 million), and also earned $1.3 million in Italy, $1.2 million in France, and $722,000 in Spain. Through Monday, the ensemble romantic comedy has made $45.4 million.

Arthur Christmas continued to rack up solid overseas grosses over Christmas weekend by earning an estimated $9.7 million from 74 markets. In its seventh weekend, the movie improved 91 percent in the United Kingdom to an estimated $4.1 million. Remarkably, that's its top weekend so far, and the Aardman Animation holiday movie ranks 10th on the year there with a strong $32.1 million. Overall, the movie has made $90 million overseas for a worldwide total of $134.1 million.

Corresponding with its domestic debut, The Darkest Hour opened to $3.6 million from four overseas markets, most of which came from a $3.3 million start in Russia. That's a fine figure for a moderately-budgeted sci-fi flick, though it's less impressive considering the movie is set in Moscow and is produced by Russian director Timur Bekmambetov. The Darkest Hour adds 13 markets next weekend, including Germany.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo earned $1.6 million from Scandanavian countries in its first weekend overseas. It ranked second in Sweden with $1.4 million, which was notably off from the original version's $2 million debut in 2009.

We Bought a Zoo debuted to just under $1 million in six markets, including $314,612 in Mexico. The Matt Damon comedy/drama expands in to Australia and Spain this weekend.

Other Notables - Weekend Gross - Gross-to-Date (in millions)

Happy Feet Two - $2.5 - $61.5

Rubbeldiekatz - $2.2 - $5.9

The Adventures of Tintin - $2.1 - $243.9

Real Steel - $1.9 - $197.4

Tower Heist - $1.8 - $53.1

In Time - $1.5 - $99.8

Domestic Report:

'M:I-4' Sizzles Over Solid Christmas Weekend

Last Weekend:

'M:I-4' Lights Fuse Overseas



Related Charts:

• 2011 Worldwide Grosses

• All-Time Worldwide Grosses