INTERNATIONAL: 'Reason' to be cheerful

Working Title, U to celebrate 'Bridget'
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111791 ... Id=13&cs=1

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" showed the neurotic singleton hasn't lost her touch: The sequel smashed numerous records for producers Working Title and distribs Universal/UIP in six territories over the weekend.

Edge of Reason" wooed $26.6 million from 1,016 playdates, highlighted by the U.K.'s sockosocko $19.4 million, including $6.1 million in sneaks, Australia's $4.3 million, Poland's $1.3 million, Holland's $1.1 million and Hungary's $405,000.

That reps record bows for Working Title in each case, Universal's best ever debuts in BlightyBlighty, Poland and Hungary, U's fourth best in local currency in Australia and its third highest in Holland. All were substantially ahead of the "Bridget Jones's Diary""Bridget Jones's Diary" openings; the U.K. was 81% ahead in pounds, Poland was 189% bigger and OzOz was up by 40% in U.S. dollars.

BOM: Around the World Update

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/weekend/2004/46.htm

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is the No. 1 film internationally with record breaking openings in the 6 territories: the U.K., Australia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland and Croatia. The weekend estimate is $26,597,139 at 1,016 playdates in 6 territories, which is an outstanding $26,178 per screen.

In its home market, the U.K., Bridget Jones's Diary's sequel was phenomenal. With a weekend gross of $19,376,954 (£10.3 million) from 503 screens including previews of $5.9 million (£3.3 million) the picture had the tenth biggest opening ever in the U.K. (in Pounds sterling). It was also Universal's and Working Title's biggest opening weekend ever in the U.K. in US$ and Pounds sterling. Love Actually was their previous record holder with $11.1 million. And even more surprising was the fact that it's debut was 136% bigger than the original in US$ and 85% bigger in Pounds sterling. Bridget Jones's Diary was clearly a word-of-mouth hit as it went on to gross $60,296,418 (£42,007,008), which is the thirteen highest total to date in the U.K. The Edge of Reason will fall faster than the original, but it should easily match the $60 million total as the exchange rate is much more kind.

The Edge of Reason took in $4,317,400 at 261 dates in Australia, which placed it at the No. 1 spot with a 50% market share. That was 125% bigger than Bridget Jones's Diary in US$. It was the biggest opening ever for Working Title in Australia. It was Universal's second biggest opening ever in US$ behind Jurassic Park: The Lost World (US$4.6 million). Bridget's local currency gross is A$5.6 million was Universal's third biggest in A$ behind Gladiator (A$5.9 million) and Lost World (A$5.8 million).

In the Netherlands the sequel was also No. 1 with an outstanding weekend gross of $1,129,549 at 109 dates. Thursday's opening was Universal's biggest opening day ever there. The weekend gross was Working Title's biggest opening ever as well as Universal's second biggest opening weekend in the market behind Jurassic Park 3 ($1.4 million). The Edge of Reason was 130% bigger than BJD.

The record books kept on breaking for Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in smaller markets. It opened No. 1 in Hungary with a weekend gross of $405,005 at 35 dates, which was Universal's and Working Title's biggest opening weekend ever in Hungary.

It was 200% bigger than BJD. Poland's No. 1 debut was a resounding $1,287,226 from 97 screens, which was Universal and Working Title's biggest opening ever. Thursday's opening day gross was Universal's biggest ever and the weekend gross was 200% bigger than the original. In Croatia The Edge of Reason's weekend gross was $81,004 from 11 dates, which was Universal's biggest opening ever and % bigger than BJD.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason's success proves once again that British romantic comedies are kings in international profits. They rarely do just as well in the U.S. as overseas. For example Four Weddings and a Funeral grossed $52.7 million in the U.S. and $193 million overseas. Love Actually grossed $59.5 million in the U.S. and $185.2 million overseas. Even Bridget Jones's Diary fits that mold as it grossed $71.5 million in the U.S. and $208.7 million overseas. Almost any Working Title picture that's a romantic comedy is gold in the international markets and The Edge or Reason is no exception. The picture opens in 10 more territories next weekend including Spain and Sweden.

UNITED KINGDOM: Opening Weekend

Up $0.2m on estimates......it's going to be hard to stop this movie from becoming the #1 movie of the festive season........and that includes the Incredibles.


1) Harry Potter 3: POA - $43,749,885 (£23,882,688/ €34,629,898 7-Day* or $17,478,583/ £9,346,002/ €13,787,106 3-Day - 535 TC)
2) Harry Potter 2: COS - $29,810,019 (£18,871,829 incl. $13,822,955/ £8.75m p/v or £10.7m 3-Day - 524 TC)
3) Shrek 2 - $29,591,472 (£16,220,752/ €23,520,090 incl. $10,225,144 p/v or $19,366,328/ £10,673,350 3-Day - 512 TC)
4) Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $26,521,471 (£15,021,761 - $20,672,672 4-Day - $16.8m/ ~£9.7m 3-Day - 494 TC/1299p)
5) Harry Potter 1: PS - $23,049,154 (£16,335,627 incl. $9,334,343/ £6,665,818 2-Day p/v on 491 - 507 TC/1168p)
6) Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $20,921,781 (£13,063,560 - 501 TC)
7) The Matrix: Reloaded - $19,894,155 (£12,165,276 - 481 TC)
8) Bridget Jones’ Diary - $19,376,954 (incl. $5.9m p/v - 496 TC)
9) Star Wars 2: AOTC - $16,595,553 (£11,386,209 - 467 TC)
10) Spiderman 2 - $16,058,334 (£8,766,902/ €12,712,008 or $13,180,732/ £7,080,731/ €10,290,873 3-Day without p/v - 504 TC/1117p)

11) Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $15,910,169 (£11,058,045 - 470 TC)
12) Star Wars 1: PM - $14.865m (£9,512,295 incl. $3.1m p/v - 460 TC/779p)
13) The Matrix: Revolutions - $14,591,107 (£8,712,350 incl. £3.9m p/v - 467 TC/925p)
14) James Bond: Die Another Day - $14,294,312 (£9,122,344 - 430 TC)
15) Spiderman - $13,926,679 (£9,426,969 incl. $5.2m p/v on 492 - 509 TC)
16) Shark Tale - $13,531,947 (£7,545,074/ €10,940,357 or $9,036,122/ £5,021,868 without p/v (490 TC) - 504 TC)
17) The Day After Tomorrow - $13,434,189 (£7,321,633/ €10,616,368 or $13,424,336 without p/v or $16,022,264 by Mon - 429 TC/914 SC)
18) Monsters Inc - $13,190,862 (£9,200,257 incl. $148,678 p/v on 1 - 503 TC)
19) Finding Nemo - $12,632,460 (£7,590,845 incl. $254,655/ $347,106 p/v on 2 - 453 TC)
20) Toy Story 2 - $12.346m (£7,971,539 incl. $249,340 p/v on 1 - 496 TC)

Love Actually - $11,343,464 (incl. $1.7m p/v - £6,657,479/ £5.3m - 477 TC)
Bridget Jones’ Diary - $8,215,293 (£5,720,292 or $6.7m/ £4.6m without p/v - 417 TC)

AUSTRALIA: Opening Weekend

6th largest opening of 2004, placing just above Bourne Supremacy and I, Robot. Let's see how it stacks up this weekend against The Grudge and Polar Express.....

1) Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $14,115,394 (US$7,918,875 - 424 SC)
2) Shrek 2 - $13,159,869 (US$9,720,795 or $13,646,848 incl. Tas p/v - 437 SC) or US$10,344,499 by Mon
3) Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $12,731,703** (US$9,464,748 - 453 SC)
4) Star Wars 2: AOTC - $11,967,380 (US$6.5m - 457 SC)
5) Harry Potter 3: POA - $11,935,745 (US$8.6m or $12,274,543 incl. Tas p/v - 452 SC) or $14,799,004/ $15,137,801 by Mon*
6) The Matrix Reloaded - $11,092,773** (US$7,224,680 - 480 SC)
7) Harry Potter 2: COS - $10,640,941 (US$5.9m - 488 SC)
8) Spiderman - $10,563,980 (US$5.8m or $13m 5-Day* - 470 SC)
9) Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $9,749,937 (or $13,872,707 5-Day - US$5m - 406 SC)
10) Harry Potter 1: PS - $9,249,505 (US$4.8m - 476 SC)

11) Star Wars 1: PM - $9,139,628 (US$6,024,000 - 372 SC)
12) Finding Nemo - $8,038,861 ($8,183,563 incl. p/v - US$5.2m/$5.3m incl. p/v - 399 SC)
13) The Matrix: Revolutions - $7,996,289 (US$5.598m - 455 TC)
14) Independence Day - $7,710,385 (US$6m or $9,817,129 week - 351 SC)
15) Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines - $7,309,417 (US$4.9m - 377 SC)
16) Spiderman 2 - $7,136,602 (US$4,922,209 or $8,735,015/US$6,028,034 5-Day - 441 SC)
17) The Day After Tomorrow - $6,664,837 (US$4.7m or $5,045,325 by Tue - 402 SC)
18) Troy - $6,641,426 (US$4.7m - 418 SC)
19) Mission Impossible 2 - $6,395,638 (US$3.7m - 366 SC)
20) Men In Black 1 - $6,227,000 (US$4.6m or $8,084,111 week - 359 SC)
X-Men 2: X-Men United - $6,009,433 (US$4,889,516 - 358 SC)

X-Men 2: X-Men United - $6,009,433 (US$4,889,516 - 358 SC)
Gladiator - $5,927,458 (US$3.5m - 287 SC)
Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle - $5,843,578 (US$3.9m - 391 SC)
Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World - $5,815,000 (US$4.6m or $7,216,064 week - 310 SC)
2 Fast 2 Furious - $5,732,170 (US$3,767,682 - 301 SC) or (US$4,443,797 5-Day)
Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me - $5,718,323 (242 SC)
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $5,588,705 (US$4,317,400 - 261 SC)

Bridget Jones’ Diary - $3,926,141 (US$2m or $5,989,731/US$3.1m incl. p/v - 323 SC)
Love Actually - $2,987,214 (or $4,904,431/US$3.6m incl. p/v - 303 SC)

POLAND: Opening Weekend

Actuals brought it down $2.5m.....nonetheless, it's still a super strong opening and this year's 2nd highest behind Shrek 2.

1) Shrek 2 - $2,509,090 (615.489 adms. or $2,303,026/565.595 adms. without p/v - 101) or $2,422,129 Actuals or $3,436,462 week
2) Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $2,429,478 (592.741 adms. 4-Day or $1,813,534 3-Day or $3,150,374 week - 150)
3) Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $2m (518.901 adms. - 109)
4) Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $1,627,304 (464.944 adms. - 135)
5) The Matrix: Reloaded - $1.5m+ (447.550 adms.)

Harry Potter 2: COS - $1,488,211 (425.203 adms. - 126)
Pan Tadeusz - 424.895 adms.
The Matrix: Revolutions - $1,458,668 (407.297 amds. 5-Day or 1,026,918/279.473 adms. 3-Day - 145)
Harry Potter 1: PS - 355 955 adns,
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $1,287,226 (97)
The Passion Of The Christ - $1,244,627 (339.370 adms. or $1,230,796/336.244 adms. without p/v - 85)
Ogniem i Mieczem - 335.613 adms.
W Pustyni i w Puszczy - 321.868 adms.
Quo Vadis - 305.825 adms.
Harry Potter 3: POA - $1.2m ($752,118/309.469 adms. - $623,509/ 247.777 adms. - 130)
Troy - $1.03m ($742,169/ 263.340 adms. or $488,043 without p/v - 86)
Star Wars 1: PM - $979,000 (or $1.2m 5-Days - 80)
Nigdy w Zyciu! - $969,991 (243.252 adms. or $923,079/231.961 adms. without p/v - 60)

Bridget Jones’ Diary - $443,000 (43)
Love Actually - $215,248 (or $211,194 without p/v - 42)

NETHERLANDS: Opening Weekend

Staying level with estimates, but its actuals elevates it pass the opening of both Spiderman movies.....and right behind Troy.

Harry Potter 3: POA - $2,810,590 (€2,296,055 5-Day or $2,270,300/ €1,854,676 4-Day - 307)
Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $2,766,188 (€2,239,229 5-Day or $2,119,270/ €1,715,549 4-Day - 199) or $2,684,908 ($2,057,012 - 186) Actuals
Shrek 2 - $2,088,928 (€1,698,173 incl. p/v or $1,613,129/ €1,311,377 4-Day - 224) or $2,059,442 ($1,676,349) Actuals
Harry Potter 2: COS - $1.94m (€1,928,000 - 275)
The Matrix: Reloaded - $1,919,733 (€1,654,000 - 145)
The Matrix: Revolutions - $1,807,062 (€1,575,758 5-Day or $1,461,870/ €1,274,751 4-Day - 152)
Harry Potter 1: PS - $1.7m (€1,999,000 - 248)
Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $1.6m (€1,402,796 - 154)
James Bond: Die Another Day - $1.5m (€1,302,000 - 112)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl - $1,350,595 (or $1,275,030/ €1,133,502 without p/v -
110)
Jurassic Park 1 - $1.3m (€1,174,000 - 94)
Independence Day - $1.3m (€1,107,000 - 100)
The Day After Tomorrow - $1,272,863 (€1,042,339 - 110) or $1,645,762 by Mon
The Sixth Sense - $1.2m (€907,000 - 90)
Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World - $1.2m (€903,000 - 99)
Finding Nemo - $1,180,233 (or $1,069,275/ €891,775 without p/v - 193)
Troy - $1,166,277 (€983,696 - 130)
Spiderman - $1.16m (€1,175,000 - 128)
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $1,129,549 (109)
Spiderman 2 - $1,108,924 (€890,987 5-Day or $835,658/ €671,426 4-Day - 126) or $1,079,272 ($813,340) Actuals
Mission Impossible 2 - $1.1m (€1,055,000 - 108)
Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $1.1m (€1,006,000 - 113)
Bruce Almighty - $1.1m (€958,000 - 102)
Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines - $1,053,796 (or $796,843/ €691,000 without p/v - 115)
The Village - $1,004,284 (€834,329 - 99)
Titanic - $1m (€1,003,000 - 106)
Star Wars 2: AOTC - $1m (€997,000 - 105)
Star Wars 1: PM - $1m (€988,000 - 102)

Love Actually - $775,359 (or $663,187/ €555,751 without p/v - 104) or $757,261 Actuals
Bridget Jones’ Diary - $455,378 (or $416,035 without p/v)

HUNGARY: Opening Weekend

Sneaking in right behind Garfield.....its probably the highest opening foreign romantic comedic.

Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $892,701 (4-Day or $726,202/ 151,244,640 HuF/ 167,957 adms. 3-Day - 37) or $895,573 (34) Actuals
Lord Of The Rings: TTT - x
The Matrix: Reloaded - x
Shrek 2 - $781,643 (4-Day or $612,627/ 124,724,198 HuF/ 137,843 adms. 3-Day without p/v - 38) or $762,351 Actuals
Harry Potter 3: POA - $628,168 (132,500,000 HuF 4-Day or $519,158/ 109,487,802 HuF/ 119,248 adms. 3-Day - 41)
Star Wars 2: AOTC - $615,000 (37)
The Matrix: Revolutions - $593,708 (5-Day or $413,858/ 92,431,110 HuF/ 103,735 adms. 3-Day - 36)
Harry Potter 2: COS - $550,000
The Day After Tomorrow - $536,868 (4-Day or $457,383/ 94,218,242 HuF/ 99,247 adms. 3-Day - 42) or $448,727 Actuals
Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines - $520,740 (4-Day or $387,205/ 91,395,891 HuF/ 95,489 adms. 3-Day - 36)
Troy - $462,348 (4-Day or $397,889/ 397,889 HuF/ 90,384 adms. 3-Day - 40)
Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $453,000
Star Wars 1: PM - $441,000 (39)
Garfield: The Movie - $438,525 (4-Day or $267,346/ 55,133,909 HuF/ 60,742 adms. 3-Day - 29)
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $405,005 (35)
Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World - $387,000 (32)
The Passion Of The Christ - $385,572 (80,000 adms. 4-Day or $322,916/ 67,000,000 HuF/ 77,000 adms. 3-Day - 33)
Harry Potter 1: PS - $359,000 (34)

Love Actually - $140,820 (4-Day or $119,465/ 26,444,799 HuF/ 28,563 adms., 3-Day - 28)

-----------

CROATIA: Opening Weekend

Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $353,975 (or $483,036 week - 20)
Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $231,230 (18)
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $81,004 (11)
Spiderman 2 - $75,647 (14)
Shrek 2 - $55,895 (10)
Garfield: The Movie - $46,428 by Tue

DOMESTIC: Bridget Jones vs. Love Actually vs. OTHERS

5 N Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Uni. $8,684,055 - 530 - $16,385 $8,684,055 $70 / - 1

Down one spot to #5, just below Seed of Chucky on Actuals.

p/v 1 (Fri)- Bridget Jones 2 - $3,071,350 vs. Love Actually $2,073,600
p/v 2 (Sat) - Bridget Jones 2 - $6,534,905 ($3,463,555) vs. Love Actually $4,936,320 ($2,862,720)
p/v 3 (Sun) - Bridget Jones 2 - $8,684,055 ($2,149,150) vs. Love Actually $6,886,080 ($1,949,760)

Wk. p/v - Bridget Jones 2 - $8,684,055 vs. Love Actually $6,886,080

p/v 4 (Mon) - Bridget Jones 2 - $9,341,495 ($657,440) vs. Love Actually $7,709,855 ($823,775)

BJ2 falling deeper on Monday.......Love Actually's $10,163,670 is the target for the first 7 days.

Colin Firth not quite himself in `Bridget Jones' sequel

By Hanh Nguyen
http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story ... sec=movies

LOS ANGELES - For Colin Firth, playing Mr. Darcy is old hat. He first portrayed the snooty Brit in the `90s TV miniseries "Pride and Prejudice" and then as his modern reincarnation Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones films.

He's not as familiar, however, with playing himself.

In Helen Fielding's novel Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason the basis for the film of the same name, the irrepressible Bridget, now a "serious" journalist, interviews her screen idol Colin Firth - coincidentally, the same actor who plays her boyfriend in the film. The scene never made it to the screen.

-------

Global success for Bridget Jones

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainmen ... 015705.stm

The Edge of Reason is emulating the success of the original film
The sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary has topped the international box office in its opening week, taking $26.7m (£14.4m) outside the US.
The Edge of Reason, starring Renee Zellweger in the title role, opened in 36 countries, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

UNITED KINGDOM: Opening Weekend (POUNDS)

BJ2 slides into the Top 10, placing just below FOTR.....and the tenth movie to gross more than 10m pounds on opening weekend.

1 The Prisoner of azkaban 23,882,688 535 04
2 The Chamber of secrets 18,871,829 524 02
3 The Philosopher's stone 16,335,627 507 01
4 Shrek 2 16,220,752 512 04
5 The Return of the king 15,021,761 494 03
6 The Two towers 13,063,560 501 02
7 The Matrix:Reloaded 12,165,276 481 03
8 Attack of the clones 11,386,209 467 02
9 The Fellowship of the ring 11,058,045 470 01
10 Bridget jones:Edge of reason 10,435,193 504 04
11 The Phantom menace 9,512,295 460 99
12 Spider-man 9,426,969 509 02
13 Monsters,inc 9,200,257 503 02
14 Die another day 9,122,344 430 02
15 Spider-man 2 8,766,902 504 04
16 The Matrix:Revolutions 8,712,350 467 03
17 Toy story 2 7,971,539 496 00
18 Finding nemo 7,590,845 453 03
19 Sharktale 7,545,074 504 04
20 The Day after tomorrow 7,321,633 429 04
21 Bruce almighty 7,242,166 446 03
22 Men in black 7,066,748 417 97
23 X2 7,037,861 449 03
24 Independence day 7,005,905 434 96
25 Love actually 6,657,479 477 03
26 Hannibal 6,402,540 421 01
27 The world is not enough 6,273,584 443 99
28 Men in black 2 6,191,428 512 02
29 Troy 6,151,581 504 04
30 T3:Rise of the machines 6,080,369 478 03
31 Austin powers:Spy who shagged me 6,005,087 442 99
32 The Mummy returns 5,929,146 454 01
33 The Blair witch project 5,875,318 397 99
34 Bridget jone's diary 5,720,292 417 01
35 The Lost world 5,666,917 477 97
36 Austin powers:Goldmember 5,585,978 446 02
37 American pie 2 5,508,709 420 01
38 Planet of the apes 5,445,983 446 01
39 Van helsing 5,429,632 458 04
40 The Sixth sense 5,229,978 430 99

DOMESTIC: Bridget Jones vs. Love Actually vs. OTHERS

p/v 1 (Fri)- Bridget Jones 2 - $3,071,350 vs. Love Actually $2,073,600
p/v 2 (Sat) - Bridget Jones 2 - $6,534,905 ($3,463,555) vs. Love Actually $4,936,320 ($2,862,720)
p/v 3 (Sun) - Bridget Jones 2 - $8,684,055 ($2,149,150) vs. Love Actually $6,886,080 ($1,949,760)

Wk. p/v - Bridget Jones 2 - $8,684,055 vs. Love Actually $6,886,080

p/v 4 (Mon) - Bridget Jones 2 - $9,341,495 ($657,440) vs. Love Actually $7,709,855 ($823,775)
p/v 5 (Tue) - Bridget Jones 2 - $10,091,445 ($749,950) vs. Love Actually $8,807,135 ($1,097,280)

AUSTRALIA: Actuals (AUD$)

1 BRIDGET JONES: EDGE OF.. M UIP/Uni 1 5,588,705 370 15,105 na 5,592,497
2 TAXI M Fox 1 1,015,347 163 6,229 na 1,019,470
3 HERO M BVI/Mira 2 963,456 164 5,875 -57 3,758,944
4 THE FORGOTTEN M Col/Tri 2 717,797 199 3,607 -52 2,592,732
5 SHALL WE DANCE M BVI/Mira 4 709,339 250 2,837 -50 8,114,738

2004 Top Openings:

1 SHREK 2 PG UIP/Uni 17 Jun 437 30,114 13,159,869
2 HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN PG WB 10 Jun 452 26,407 11,935,745
3 SPIDER-MAN 2 M Col/Tri 30 Jun 441 16,174 7,132,602
4 THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW M Fox 27 May 402 16,579 6,664,837
5 TROY M WB 13 May 418 15,889 6,641,426
6 BRIDGET JONES: EDGE OF REASON M UIP/Uni 11 Nov 370 15,105 5,588,705
7 THE BOURNE SUPREMACY M UIP/Uni 26 Aug 312 15,642 4,880,391
8 I, ROBOT M Fox 22 Jul 346 13,406 4,638,348
9 VAN HELSING M UIP/Uni 06 May 338 13,598 4,596,027
10 STARSKY AND HUTCH M BVI/Mira 08 Apr 288 11,986 3,452,026

Bridget Jones catapults to top of International BO

Robert Mitchell in London 17 November 2004
http://www.screendaily.com/story.asp?storyid=19994

Having already enjoyed a week on the chart through previews alone Bridget Jones sequel The Edge Of Reason topped the international chart in its official opening week with ease.

A record opening for the UK’s Working Title in its home territory ($13.2m excluding previews) was complimented by number one launches in all of the romantic comedy’s other five territories: Australia ($4.3m), Croatia ($81,000), Hungary ($0.4m), The Netherlands ($1.13m) and Poland ($1.15m).

The highest new entry, occupying the number eight slot that Bridget filled last week, was Pixar’s latest animated title The Incredibles. The film opened throughout Scandinavia claiming number one spots in all territories as well as going out on exclusive release at the Grand Rex cinema in Paris. The film opens nationwide in France on Nov 24.

Bridget’s main competition at the top of the international chart over the next two months, as it blankets the globe, will likely come from The Incredibles which will cover the same roll-out period.

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INTERNATIONAL: Opening Weekends

Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $126.8m (UK/Germany/France/Scandinavia/Latin America – 28/7403)
The Matrix: Revolutions - $119,037,452 (Most markets - 80+/10,013)
Harry Potter 3: POA - $113.51m (UK/France/Germany/Italy/LatinAmerica/Netherlands - 24/7885) or $135.8m week
Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $99.8m (UK/Germany/France/Scandinavia/Latin America - 27/5400)
The Day After Tomorrow - $85,384,957 (Most markets except Japan - or $109.1m incl. Mon - 110/9276)
X-Men 2: X-Men United - $69,270,300 (Most markets - 93/7585)
Star Wars 2: AOTC - $69.1m (Most markets - 72/5854)
Harry Potter 2: COS - $59.5m (UK/Germany/Taiwan - 9/4265 - 7.1m tickets)
Monsters Inc - $58.5m (Germany/Austria/Taiwan/Poland)
Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $58m (UK/France/Spain)
Van Helsing - $55,172,254 (Most markets - $51.6m from UIP - 4984 - $3.6m from Russia/Iceland/Philip’- 41/5204)
Troy - $54.7m (Every major market except UK/Italy/Japan/SKorea/Taiwan - 47/9500+)
Titanic - $48.1m (incl. $25.9m in Japan*/Australia*/Taiwan* - 8* - Mexico - 11 or $55m week)
James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies - $45m+ (UK*/Europe)
Spiderman 2 - $43,755,772 (5-Day or $36,952,732 weekend - LatinAmerica/Oceania/Russia - 29/3997) or $60.75m week
Shrek 2 - $38m ($31,204,474 - Australia/LatinAmerica - 16/1624)
I, Robot - $32,385,637 (Australia*/SEAsia* - $20,756,365 - France/Spain/Mexico/Skorea/Taiwan - 18/3489) or $35.2m week
*The Passion Of The Christ - $32.3m (Australia*/NZ*/Greece* (Opening on 3 - $3,491,409) - $15m - LatinAmerica = $10.1m on 9/1927 - 19)
The Matrix: Reloaded - $31.6m (France/Australia/NZ/Thailand - 13/2877 - 6,136,220 tickets)
*Jurassic Park 1 - $30m+ (LatinAmerica* - $20.5m = UK/Japan/SKorea/Mexico/Taiwan - 5) or $51m (LatinAmerica - $41m week)
Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines - $27.5m ($20.4m - Japan/Russia/HK - 13/1600)
Bruce Almighty - $27m ($10.4m - Germany/Italy/Brazil - 10+/1721)
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $26,597,139 ($21,887,913 - UK*/Australia/Poland/Netherlands/Hungary/Croatia - 6/1016)
Harry Potter 1: SS - $26m (UK/Taiwan)
Planet Of The Apes - $26m ($13m - Japan*/Latin America - 16/1985)
James Bond: Die Another Day - $25m (UK/France/Spain - 5)
Armageddon - $23.7m ($14.1m - SKorea*/Scandinavia*/Germany/Spain/Austria - 11/1725)
Hannibal - $23.5m (Italy*/UK/Germany/Australia)
American Pie 2 - $23.3m (Germany/Austria/Netherlands)
Godzilla - $22.1m ($3.6m - SKorea*/Asia - 10/655)
Ice Age - $21.7m (UK/Germany/Mexico/Scandinavia - 28/3300)
Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World - $20.5m (Australia*/SKorea/Singapore/Asia - 5)
Charlie’s Angels 1 - $20.1m (Japan*/UK/France/Australia/Brazil/Asia - 31/3900)
X-Men 1 - $20.1m (incl. $11.3m in Asia* - Mexico/Brazil/Skorea/Taiwan - 17)
Mission Impossible 2 - $19.8m ($7.9m 3rd weekend - Australia*/Asia/SKorea/Taiwan/Argentina/Turkey - 10)

Great opening weekend for the film. It will be interesting to see how it holds up given the poor reviews, but (reportedly) good word-of-mouth.

BJ2 should find its way to $150m without any problems......and it will also have the Christmas boost, something which the original didn't get.

New openings this weekend includes:

Czech Republic 18 November 2004
Israel 18 November 2004
Portugal 18 November 2004
Denmark 19 November 2004
Estonia 19 November 2004
Iceland 19 November 2004
Norway 19 November 2004
Spain 19 November 2004
Sweden 19 November 2004
USA 19 November 2004

Current prediction = $180m-$200m overseas

DOMESTIC: Bridget Jones vs. Love Actually

Day 1 (Fri)- BJ2 - $3,071,350 vs. BJ1 - $4,042,500 vs. LA - $2,073,600
Day 2 (Sat) - BJ2 - $6,534,905 ($3,463,555) vs. BJ1 - $8,156,000 ($4,113,500) vs. LA - $4,936,320 ($2,862,720)
Day 3 (Sun) - BJ2 - $8,684,055 ($2,149,150) vs. BJ1 - $10,733,933 ($2,457,000) vs. LA - $6,886,080 ($1,949,760)

Wk. 1 - BJ2 - $8,684,055 vs. BJ1 - $10,733,933 vs. LA - $6,886,080

Day 4 (Mon) - BJ2 - $9,341,495 ($657,440) vs. BJ1 - $11,872,788 ($1,138,855) vs. LA - $7,709,855 ($823,775)
Day 5 (Tue) - BJ2 - $10,091,445 ($749,950) vs. BJ1 - $13,045,351 ($1,172,563) vs. LA - $8,807,135 ($1,097,280)
Day 6 (Wed) - BJ2 - $10,788,395 ($696,950) vs. BJ1 - $14,078,812 ($1,033,461) vs. LA - $9,469,590 ($662,455)

NETHERLANDS: Week 1

Weekly results are in with BJ2 moving up the charts slightly since opening weekend, taking over Finding Nemo.

Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $4,385,337 (€3,542,374 8-Day or $3,740,173/€3,018,694 7-Day - 186 TC)
Harry Potter 3: POA - $3,190,904 (€2,602,182 8-Day or $2,648,208/€2,159,614 7-Day - 302 TC)
Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $2,834,285 (8-Day or $2,472,319 7-Day - 130 TC)
Shrek 2 - $2,663,292 (€2,167,387 or $2,183,844/ €1,777,212 without p/v - 224 TC) or $2,465,870 Actuals
The Matrix: Reloaded - $2,546,907 (134 TC)
Harry Potter 2: COS - $2,353,693 (270 TC)
The Matrix: Revolutions - $2,165,892 (or $1,819,549 without p/v - 142 TC)
Harry Potter 1: PS - $2,162,531 (243 TC)
The Day After Tomorrow - $1,894,035 (€1,547,237 - 109 TC)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl - $1,870,167 (or $1,795,343 without p/v - 110 TC)
Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $1,806,305 (or $1,638,204 without p/v - 113 TC)
James Bond: Die Another Day - $1,803,898 (or $1,689,988 without p/v - 112 TC)
Bruce Almighty - $1,800,690 (102 TC)
Troy - $1,596,421 (€1,336,364 - 130 TC)
Spiderman - $1,529,485 (128 TC)
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $1,488,243 (€1,148,626 - 109 TC)
Finding Nemo - $1,484,562 (or $1,346,769 without p/v - 193 TC)
Titanic - $1,416,961 (109 TC)
Spiderman 2 - $1,390,300 (€1,127,950 5-Day or $1,124,368/ €906,113 4-Day - 125 TC)
Star Wars 2: AOTC - $1,316,861 (105 TC)
The Village - $1,295,569 (€1,064,180 - 99 TC)
Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World - $1,257,791 (99 TC)
Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines - $1,246,835 ($991,998 - 115 TC)

Love Actually - $946,532 (or $835,761 without p/v - 108 TC)

POLAND: Week 1

Updated with chart numbers and admissions....


1) Shrek 2 - $2,509,090 (615.489 adms. or $2,303,026/565.595 adms. without p/v - 101) or $2,422,129 Actuals or $3,436,462 week
2) Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $2,429,478 (592.741 adms. 4-Day or $1,813,534 3-Day or $3,150,374 week - 150)
3) Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $2m (518.901 adms. - 109)
4) Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $1,627,304 (464.944 adms. - 135)
5) The Matrix: Reloaded - $1.5m+ (447.550 adms.)

Harry Potter 2: COS - $1,488,211 (425.203 adms. - 126)
Pan Tadeusz - 424.895 adms.
The Matrix: Revolutions - $1,458,668 (407.297 amds. 5-Day or $1,026,918/ 279.473 adms. 3-Day - 145)
Harry Potter 1: PS - 355 955 adns,
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $1,359,766 (290.878 adms. - 94) or $1,287,226 (97) Actuals
The Passion Of The Christ - $1,244,627 (339.370 adms. or $1,230,796/336.244 adms. without p/v - 85)
Ogniem i Mieczem - 335.613 adms.
W Pustyni i w Puszczy - 321.868 adms.
Quo Vadis - 305.825 adms.
Harry Potter 3: POA - $1.2m ($752,118/309.469 adms. - $623,509/ 247.777 adms. - 130)
Troy - $1.03m ($742,169/ 263.340 adms. or $488,043 without p/v - 86)
Star Wars 1: PM - $979,000 (or $1.2m 5-Days - 80)
Nigdy w Zyciu! - $969,991 (243.252 adms. or $923,079/231.961 adms. without p/v - 60)
Titanic - $940,000 ($1.1m 6-Days - 55)
Finding Nemo - $937,569 (or $832,231 without p/v - 125)
Shark Tale - $820,052 (200.814 adms. or $719,993/ 180.283 adms. without p/v - 88) or $755,617 (91) Actuals
The Day After Tomorrow - $732,835 (178.716 adms. - 103)

Bridget, Bad Santa, Polar kick off Christmas season

Jeremy Kay in Los Angeles 19 November 2004 04:00
http://www.screendaily.com/story.asp?storyid=20009

UIP executives are enjoying a purple patch at the international box office and will look to Universal’s Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason to continue its dominance when it opens in Spain and Sweden on Nov 19.

A strong performance is on the cards given that Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason was the number one international title last weekend and as of Nov 14 had grossed $26.6m.

And Spanish audiences clearly have a taste for the hapless Bridget, given that Bridget Jones’s Diary opened top in Spain on $1.3m in June 2001, playing on 240 screens.

DOMESTIC: Bridget Jones vs. Love Actually

Day 1 (Fri)- BJ2 - $3,071,350 vs. BJ1 - $4,042,500 vs. LA - $2,073,600
Day 2 (Sat) - BJ2 - $6,534,905 ($3,463,555) vs. BJ1 - $8,156,000 ($4,113,500) vs. LA - $4,936,320 ($2,862,720)
Day 3 (Sun) - BJ2 - $8,684,055 ($2,149,150) vs. BJ1 - $10,733,933 ($2,457,000) vs. LA - $6,886,080 ($1,949,760)

Wk. 1 - BJ2 - $8,684,055 vs. BJ1 - $10,733,933 vs. LA - $6,886,080

Day 4 (Mon) - BJ2 - $9,341,495 ($657,440) vs. BJ1 - $11,872,788 ($1,138,855) vs. LA - $7,709,855 ($823,775)
Day 5 (Tue) - BJ2 - $10,091,445 ($749,950) vs. BJ1 - $13,045,351 ($1,172,563) vs. LA - $8,807,135 ($1,097,280)
Day 6 (Wed) - BJ2 - $10,788,395 ($696,950) vs. BJ1 - $14,078,812 ($1,033,461) vs. LA - $9,469,590 ($662,455)
Day 7 (Thu) - BJ2 - $11,466,795 ($678,400) vs. BJ1 - $15,030,601 ($951,789) vs. LA - $10,163,670 ($694,080)

Firth rules out third Bridget Jones film

'Not averse' to playing 007

Friday, November 19, 2004
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/sto ... a3119c3fef

NEW YORK (AP) -- Colin Firth is done being Bridget Jones's nice guy, but he's not against donning British agent 007's tuxedo.

"At the moment, I can't think of anything I would be less attracted to," says Firth about the possibility of a third Bridget Jones film. However, the 44-year-old actor tells Entertainment Weekly magazine that he'd seriously consider taking over the James Bond franchise from Pierce Brosnan. Unlike another famous Colin -- Colin Farrell, who says he's not interested in the role despite being Brosnan's choice -- there's been no talk of Firth grabbing Bond's Walther PPK.

"No one has approached me, but I would not be averse to it," Firth tells EW in its latest issue.

DOMESTIC: Bridget Jones vs. Love Actually

Day 1 (Fri)- BJ2 - $3,071,350 vs. BJ1 - $4,042,500 vs. LA - $2,073,600
Day 2 (Sat) - BJ2 - $6,534,905 ($3,463,555) vs. BJ1 - $8,156,000 ($4,113,500) vs. LA - $4,936,320 ($2,862,720)
Day 3 (Sun) - BJ2 - $8,684,055 ($2,149,150) vs. BJ1 - $10,733,933 ($2,457,000) vs. LA - $6,886,080 ($1,949,760)

OW - BJ2 - $8,684,055 vs. BJ1 - $10,733,933 vs. LA - $6,886,080

Day 4 (Mon) - BJ2 - $9,341,495 ($657,440) vs. BJ1 - $11,872,788 ($1,138,855) vs. LA - $7,709,855 ($823,775)
Day 5 (Tue) - BJ2 - $10,091,445 ($749,950) vs. BJ1 - $13,045,351 ($1,172,563) vs. LA - $8,807,135 ($1,097,280)
Day 6 (Wed) - BJ2 - $10,788,395 ($696,950) vs. BJ1 - $14,078,812 ($1,033,461) vs. LA - $9,469,590 ($662,455)
Day 7 (Thu) - BJ2 - $11,466,795 ($678,400) vs. BJ1 - $15,030,601 ($951,789) vs. LA - $10,163,670 ($694,080)

Wk. 1 - BJ2 - $11,466,795 vs. BJ1 - $15,030,601 vs. LA - $10,163,670

Day 8 (Fri) - BJ2 - $14,807,000 ($3,340,000) est. vs. BJ1 - $18,257,000 ($3,226,000) vs. LA - $12,788,380 ($2,624,710)


Very dissapointing considering the number of theatres it received....

UNITED KINGDOM: Week 1

BJ2 kept powering away in the UK and has overtaken TTT since opening weekend......and like on opening weekend......has kicked FOTR outside the Top 10......hmmm.......Bridget seems to have a grudge against LOTR it seems....LOL

It almost doubled the original's first week gross and to enter the realm of the mega-sequels is quite a feet. This is definately UK's 3rd most beloved home-connected franchise behind LOTR and HP.

1) Harry Potter 3: POA - $49,988,431 (11-Days - 535 TC)
2) Shrek 2 - $39,258,369 (512 TC)
3) Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $36,804,070 (494 TC)
4) Harry Potter 2: COS - $35,917,785 (524 TC)
5) The Matrix: Reloaded - $29,778,604 (481 TC)
6) Harry Potter 1: PS - $29,658,333 (507 TC)
7) Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $28,982,378 (504 TC)
8) Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $28,812,768 (501 TC)
9) Star Wars 1: PM - $25,179,525 (460 TC)
10) Spiderman 2 - $24,479,745 (504 TC)

11) Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $22,822,050 (470 TC)
12) Star Wars 2: AOTC - $22,575,310 (467 TC)
13) The Day After Tomorrow - $21,848,449 (429 TC)
14) Monsters Inc - $21,136,247 (503 TC)
15) James Bond: Die Another Day - $20,066,186 (430 TC)
16) Men In Black 1 - $20,031,699 (417 TC)
17) Independence Day - $18,847,750 (434 TC)
18) The Matrix: Revolutions - $18,196,780 (467 TC)
19) Spiderman 1 - $18,174,453 (509 TC)
20) Love Actually - $17,820,967 (477 TC)

Toy Story 2 - $17,501,127 ($17,157,008 + $344,119 p/v on 1 - 496 TC)
Finding Nemo - $16,992,336 ($16,645,298 + $347,038 p/v on 2 - 453 TC)
X-Men 2: X-Men United - $16,739,940 (449 TC)
Bruce Almighty - $16,708,954 (446 TC)
Shark Tale - $16,635,216 (504 TC)
Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me - $16,116,202 (442 TC)
Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World - $15,863,352 (477 TC)
The Blair Witch Project - $15,706,862 ($13,559,316 + $2,147,546 p/v on 36 - 397 TC)
Austin Powers 3: Goldmember - $15,463,433 (446 TC)
Men In Black 2 - $15,168,314 (512 TC)
Bridget Jones’ Diary - $15,116,833 (417 TC)
Troy - $14,939,487 ($14,703,545 + $235,942 p/v on 1 - 504 TC)

---

WEEKDAY PERIOD 1: Largest 1st Mon-Thu Gross

BJ2 added about $9.6m Mon-Thu....which according to my calculations is the 3rd largest Weekeday Period 1 (first Mon-Thu) gross in recent times (2001 onwards)....behind only ROTK's $10,475,434 and Reloaded's $9,864,262.

It destroyed the original's $7,079,233 gross and Love Actually's $6,038,736 Mon-Thu gross. Check the list below for more.....

Lord Of The Rings: ROTK - $10,475,434*
The Matrix: Reloaded - $9,864,262
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason - $9.6m
Shrek 2 - $9,472,528
The Day After Tomorrow - $8,448,207
Spiderman 2 - $8,358,662
Monsters Inc - $8,158,666
Lord Of The Rings: TTT - $7,891,364*
Lord Of The Rings: FOTR - $7,172,644*
Bridget Jones’ Diary - $7,079,233
I, Robot - $6,630,670
Austin Powers 3: Goldmember - $6,452,138
Harry Potter 1: PS - $6,305,137
Love Actually - $6,038,736
Star Wars 2: AOTC - $5,954,338
Cats & Dogs - $5,826,490
Harry Potter 2: COS - $5,804,479
Harry Potter 3: POA - $5,628,694

Realy bad second session in the US by Bridget. Now even $50 mil. looks unreachable