Very Early International Weekend Report:



Ray kicked off its international run with an excellent opening in Germany on Thursday. From just 108 screens the picture mustered a mighty $845,348. That figures includes $119,498 worth of previews and provided for the best screen average in the market. Because of its limited release it could only land at No. 7, but opened above the debuts of After the Sunset and House of Flying Daggers. Comparatively it was 28% better than Lost in Translation and 158% ahead of 21 Grams. Ray will open around the world over the next two months attempting to capitalize on the awards season. The next opening is Austria on January 14 followed by U.K. and Italy open on January 21.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason had an outstanding No. 1 opening in Italy last weekend, grossing $4,444,474 from 351 screens. That is 107% bigger than the opening of Bridget Jones's Diary in US$ and 30% ahead in Euros. It was Working Title's biggest opening weekend ever in Italy. Diary went on to gross $12.3 million, which is about where its sequel will end up.

Holdovers accounted for the rest of The Edge of Reason's take, which was $7,467,748 from 1,844 screens in 24 territories for a $187,887,073. With 10 more territories to open in Bridget will cross $200 million. Next up is Malaysia on Jan. 13.

Meet the Fockers had a promising start in Mexico over the weekend, grossing $1,914,192 from 268 screens. That bested the original by 73% and topped recent comedy hits like 50 First Dates by 19%, American Pie 2 by 36%, and Along Came Polly by 90%. The impressive debut may open up Latin America for Fockers, which is one place Parents didn't excel. Overall the picture grossed $2,848,616 from 570 screens in countries for a $19,628,973 total.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie had surprising starts in Australia and New Zealand. The solid openings were in line with the U.S. premiere, but were surprising because no international territory has been too good for the picture. In Australia the Nickelodeon underwater comedy grossed $1,247,007 from 236 screens, good enough to rank fourth in the market. The opening was better than both of the Rugrats movies. New Zealand recorded $448,104 from 63 screens, which also bested the Rugrats movies.

SOURCE:


http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/weekend/2005/01.htm

International grosses and totals January 7-9 Weekend:

Movie - international weekend gross - total international gross


Ocean's Twelve - $17,600,000 - $137,000,000

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - $7,467,748 - $187,887,073

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - $4,049,426 - $40,264,920

The Polar Express - $3,800,000 - $109,500,000

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (Excludes Colombia) - $3,373,080 - $14,590,086

Meet the Fockers - $2,848,616 - $19,628,973

The Aviator - $2,200,000 - $2,970,000

Shrek 2 - $1,933,338 - $474,700,000

Shark Tale - $1,117,304 - $159,689,860

Without a Paddle - $1,027,268 - $6,696,416

SOURCE

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My notes:

- The Polar Express dropped almost 55% from last weekend, but its total overseas cume is already great. It still has Turkey to open in. I expect the film to sinish with $115+ million overseas and $280+ million worldwide. Not a bad feat!

- Shrek 2 has reached around $915 million worldwide.

- Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason still has 10 territories to open in and is still doing well in holdovers. Expect a worldwide gross of around $260 million at least.

Last weekend, Alexander became No.1 in Spain and France, but BOMB in UK.

INTERNATIONAL WEEKEND REPORT JANUARY 7-9:


"Ocean's Twelve" sailed to the top of the international box office this weekend, and "The Incredibles" flew past $300 million during a busy period that also saw encouraging debuts for "Ray" and "The Aviator"

"Ocean's Twelve" grossed an estimated $17.7 million, taking its international haul to $137 million, surpassing the North American tally of $115 million.

In Asian bows, the all-star crime caper grossed about $1.8 million in South Korea , and $370,000 in the Philippines, the film took an estimated $370,700 in its opening weekend at 89 sites, ahead of openers "Gong Fu" (Kung Fu Hustle) ($260,000 on 30 prints) and "Blade: Trinity."

In Portugal, director Steven Soderbergh's heist flick opened to about $724,000; in Argentina, it kicked off with $462,400.

"The Aviator" got off to a flying start in the United Kingdom, where the Scorsese-DiCaprio collaboration took about $2.3 million.

"Ray" launched its international run in Germany with $890,000, ahead of other openers "After the Sunset" and "House of Flying Daggers."

North American champ "Meet the Fockers" grossed an estimated $5.1 million from four territories; the foreign haul stands at $19.35 million, including $16.5 million from Australia where it was No. 1 for a second weekend.

The family comedy bowed at No. 1 in Mexico, with an estimated gross of $1.9 million, ahead of "National Treasure" in its second weekend ($1.1 million).

The "Incredibles" flew past the $300 million mark after earning an estimated $17 million. The animated superheroes have pulled in $318.5 million from 58 countries.

Meanwhile, "National Treasure" hit $103.2 million overseas, after taking in $14.2 million from 24 territories.

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" wowed them in Italy, where the film made a hefty $4.3 million. The comedy's weekend estimate was $7 million across 25 territories, lifting its international take to $188 million.

"Gong Fu" (Kung Fu Hustle) made another $5.5 million during its third weekend in Asia. The total from just eight countries now stands at $47 million with openings in Thailand and Korea yet to come.

"SpongeBob SquarePants" opened in Australia to $1.25 million, and in New Zealand to $440,000. Its overseas total stands at $15 million.

"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" made about $4.5 million this weekend, taking its foreign total to $42 million.


SOURCE:

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/va/2005010 ... 26000.html

Um...it certainly wasn't #1 in Germany...

Sorry.... I did some wrong

In fact, Alexander became No.1 in Spain and France, but BOMB in UK. (Source: Variety, cbo-boxoffice)

I hope Spongebob can get at least 30 million worldwide...it's already a huge profit even without overseas revenue though.

It will, it's still got the UK and others coming in February. :wink:

ALEXANDER opens very huge in Spain.


http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout ... egoryid=13

'Twelve' on top o'seas

Top three's perfs keep foreign biz relatively healthy

By DAVE MCNARY


Star power won out at the international box office with "Ocean's Twelve" narrowly topping a surprisingly robust "Alexander" and durable family fave "The Incredibles" during a moderate post-holiday weekend.
"Ocean's" finished the frame with $17.6 million from 5,200 playdates in 54 countries, edging "Alexander" with $16.9 million at 3,000 sites in 35 territories and "The Incredibles" with $15.3 million at 6,981 screens in 58 territories. Respective offshore cumes totaled $137 million for "Ocean's Twelve," $66.3 million for "Alexander" and $315.7 million for "The Incredibles."

The solid perfs from the top three kept foreign biz relatively healthy, although exhibs are having to adjust after three years of socko grosses from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. At the same point last year, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" had grossed $455 million internationally in its first 26 days and went on to cume $742 million foreign.

"Ocean's" launched in first place in Argentina, Korea, the Philippines and Portugal. The Korean take hit $2.2 million at 150 playdates while the Portuguese tally totaled $719,700 at 70, 38% ahead of "Ocean's Eleven" in euros and 109% higher in dollars.

The fourth weekend of "Ocean's" remained in first in Germany with $2.65 million at 763 engagements for a Teuton cume of $15 million.

Contrasting sharply with mild Stateside biz, "Alexander" soldiered to solid starts in Spain, France and the U.K. The Spanish takings biz were by far the most impressive with $6.9 million on 396 screens in its first five days -- the fourth largest opening in that market after "Shrek 2," "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."

In France, "Alexander" led with $3.86 million at 530 screens, beating the fourth weekend of "Ocean's Twelve." And its U.K. debut took in $2.3 million from 415 sites for second behind the $2.7 million opening of "White Noise" and just ahead of the $2.2 million launch for "The Aviator" at 285 following a two-week limited run.

In Belgium, "Alexander" opened with $572,195 on 46 screens for an impressive per-screen of average of $12,439, while in Columbia, the Oliver Stone epic drew $249,000 behind the opening of "National Treasure." Holdover biz was decent with $1.55 million at 499 playdates in its third frame in Germany for a cume of $8.4 million; South Korea's soph sesh held well with $1.5 million at 268 sites for a $6.9 million total.

"The Incredibles" remained a potent player, thanks largely to major market holds. The Disney/Pixar toon took in $3.2 million in its third sesh in Oz, off 33% as it cumed $14 million in that market; Blighty biz remained impressive with $1.9 million in its eighth weekend, off 25% for a total of $57.4 million.

"The Incredibles" has a combined domestic and foreign gross of $570 million, placing it ahead of "Armageddon" for 26th place on the worldwide grosser list.

"National Treasure" finished a close fourth with $13.5 million, powered by respectable holdover biz. Its third U.K. frame was off 22% to $1.8 million for a $10.9 million cume; its third French sesh took in $1.4 million for a 49% decline and a $8.5 million cume.

"Treasure," which has cumed $102.9 million, also opened solidly in Belgium with $1 million at 72 playdates and in Hong Kong with $625,000 at 45, the best opening ever for a Disney live-action pic.

Hong Kong hit "Kung Fu Hustle" took in $4.7 million in eight Asian markets. It opened with $271,000 at 42 sites in Indonesia, setting a record for Chinese-language pics. It also edged out "National Treasure" in the Philippines with $261,000 at 30 sites.

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" remained a durable performer as its opening led in Italy with $4.4 million at 399 sites, easily topping the debut of "The Grudge" with $2.04 million at 327. "Bridget" has cumed $188 million foreign while "The Grudge" has scared up $32.8 million offshore.

"Closer" continued to rack up respectable biz in Italy with a $6.7 million cume after five weeks and will open next weekend in the U.K., Germany, Mexico, Switzerland and South Africa.

Amazing opening for Alexander in Spain...4th biggest of all time! Alexander will reach $170+ million worldwide. It's still a bomb, but at least probably not the biggest of all time.

The Incredibles is doing well, even though not on par with Finding Nemo, mainly due to its performances in Germany and Japan which have been much worse than Nemo's. I see a WW total of $620-630 million.

Ocean's Twelve is holding on well. Looks like a worldwide cume of $380-400 million is in store.

Kung Fu Hustle

(I have seen this movie.... and it isn't my cup of tea)


http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/weekend/2005/01.htm
January 7-9, 2005



Around the World Round Up
by Kenan Bresnan

Full Edition -

Ocean's Twelve fell quite highly in most markets, but thanks to four strong opening territories the picture still managed $17.6 million from 5,200 prints in 54 countries for a $137 million total. The high drop-off rates were to be expected for all films that played through the New Year's holiday weekend.

In South Korea the comedy caper grossed $2.1 million from 150 screens. It couldn't match Ocean's Eleven in local currency, but that was because Eleven opened on the Independence Movement Holiday weekend. South Korea has provided huge openings as of late for U.S. films despite its local film's supremacy over the market. Twelve's start topped traditionally more powerful films like Die Another Day, The Mummy, and Mission: Impossible 2.

Ocean's Twelve also opened in Portugal where it grossed $719,700 from 70 prints over the weekend, topping the original by 38% in Euros and 109% in US$. The sequel easily ranked first in the market. Argentina's $500,900 from 80 prints was also good enough for first place. It topped Ocean's Eleven by 15% and outperformed Catch Me If You Can by 304%. Twelve was No. 1 as well in the Philippines, grossing $366,1000 from 45 prints. The bested Eleven by 4% with one less day of box office and Catch Me If You Can by 66%.

Alexander had mixed reception last weekend overseas. In the U.K. the picture grossed a sturdy $2.295 million from 415 situations. This was a somewhat poor start, however. Although Warner Brothers' touts it as higher than the opening of The Patriot (the English have never been too kind to American Independence pictures), the picture performed below expectations. The opening didn't even math The Beach or Twister.

On the other hand, in Spain, Alexander had the fourth biggest opening ever in that territory behind Shrek 2, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Grossing a stunning $6.9 million (€5.1 million) from 396 screens Alexander topped Troy's $6.3 million.

France and Belgium were in between the U.K. and Spain's starts. In France Alexander recorded $3.9 million on 530 screens, while Belgium produced $572,195 from 46 screens. Troy didn't have a very big opening either in both territories, but it was still ahead of Alexander, grossing $5.1 million from 743 screens.

Alexander played alright in Latin America. Opening in Colombia the Oliver Stone epic grossed $249,000 from 50 screens, ranking second behind fellow opener National Treasure. There the opening was better than Gladiator by 58% and Pearl Harbor by 41%. Peru's $141,000 from 55 topped the market and was better than Gladiator by 30%.

Strong holdovers saw the picture add $1.5 million on 268 in South Korea for a $6.9 million two-week total. Germany yielded $1.6 million on 499, off just 14%, for a three-week total of $8.4 million.

Overall Alexander had an impressive showing, grossing $16.9 million on 3,000 screens in 35 territories for a $66.3 million total, nearly doubling its domestic total. $100 million is becoming more and more of possibility with a worldwide gross that would match its $155 million production budget also possible.

The Incredibles added $15.3 million over the weekend for a phenomenal $315.7 million total. Much of business came from strong holdovers. The picture added $2.3 million for $14 million in its third weekend in Australia, $1.9 million for $57.4 million in its eight in the U.K., $1.7 million for $21.4 million in its fifth in Germany, and $1 million for $39.4 million in its seventh in France.

National Treasure passed the century mark, adding $13.5 million for $102.9 million, powered by two No. 1 debuts in Belgium ($1 million on 72) and Hong Kong ($625,000 on 45).

Ray kicked off its international run with an excellent opening in Germany on Thursday. From just 108 screens the picture mustered a mighty $845,348. That figures includes $119,498 worth of previews and provided for the best screen average in the market. Because of its limited release it could only land at No. 7, but opened above the debuts of After the Sunset and House of Flying Daggers. Comparatively it was 28% better than Lost in Translation and 158% ahead of 21 Grams. Ray will open around the world over the next two months attempting to capitalize on the awards season. The next opening is Austria on January 14 followed by U.K. and Italy open on January 21.

Just as in the U.S. horror/thriller pictures have had surprising success in the international markets. Over the last four months horror pictures have been enjoying large starts because they have opened in traditionally poor weekends leaving them competition-free. Horror patrons don't seem to care when they go to a movie, plus the pictures have been grabbing other movie patrons as well because there are no new movies to see. After The Village's $138.54 million international run, smaller horror movies gained stem. The Forgotten kicked off with impressive starts in all of Europe and Asia leading to a $39,679,582 total (its still in release). Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid followed suit with a $32,715,808 (also still in release) along with a record-breaking premiere in India. Then Resident Evil: Apocalypse truly showed that horror movies have gained more appeal. The original Resident Evil grossed just $62.3 million while its sequel, despite not performing too well domestically, grossed $77 million (also still grossing).

This weekend The Grudge, Blade: Trinity, and White Noise are continuing the trend. The Grudge rang up $6.1 million worth of business from just 1,664 screens in 14 markets for an early $32.8 million total. The horror story was No. 1 in Brazil, grossing $1.1 million on 213 screens and second in Italy with a very impressive $3.7 million on 327. The Italian start topped Red Dragon, Hollow Man, and The Ring. In smaller territories The Grudge was also stellar. In Norway the picture opened in No. 1, grossing $408,402 on 30 screens. It was second in Finland, grossing $30,955 on 20 and third in the Netherlands, taking $742,076 on 71.

The Grudge has already had impressive runs in the U.K. ($14,417,632), Australia ($4.5 million), and Russia ($1.3 million). The Grudge still has almost 3/4 of the world to open in, including Sweden and Israel on January 14 and Spain and Greece on the 21st.

Coming off impressive runs in Australia ($4,397,365) where it topped both its predecessors, the U.K. ($12,676,371), where it will pass both its predecessors, South Korea ($5,134,975), more than doubling both originals, and France ($4,566,560), where it will pass both its predecessors, Blade: Trinity continued its international rollout with huge success. The picture opened in four countries over the weekend, amassing a total of $2,339,529 from 1,173 screens in 12 territories for a $32,574,923 total. It opened in first place in Denmark, grossing $416,989 on 30 screens. Trinity was also impressive in Greece, taking in $400,164 on 32, Israel, grossing $60,414 on 24, and in the Philippines, grossing $194,547 on just 10 screens.

White Noise opened day-and-date with the U.S. in the U.K. As in the U.S. White Noise opened at No. 1, grossing a surprising $3.34 million from 314 sites, taking the highest screen average of any film in the market. The picture opened above fellow opener Alexander and expanding The Aviator, as well as unseating The Incredibles. White Noise's start is in line with Open Water and Dawn of the Dead and tops What Lies Beneath and Shaun of the Dead.

Expanding from 1 screen to 285 in the U.K. The Aviator had a decent weekend. The Oscar hopeful grossed $2.2 million for a $2.97 million total. Recent award's contenders also have had trouble getting out of the gate, but end up with big totals. Chicago grossed only $3.2 million in its expanding weekend for a $3.87 million total at the time. It ended up with $26.3 million. A Beautiful Mind grossed only $1.8 million in its expansion, but finished with an $11.6 million total.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason had an outstanding No. 1 opening in Italy last weekend, grossing $4,444,474 from 351 screens. That is 107% bigger than the opening of Bridget Jones's Diary in US$ and 30% ahead in Euros. It was Working Title's biggest opening weekend ever in Italy. Diary went on to gross $12.3 million, which is about where its sequel will end up.

Holdovers accounted for the rest of The Edge of Reason's take, which was $7,467,748 from 1,844 screens in 24 territories for a $187,887,073. With 10 more territories to open in Bridget will cross $200 million. Next up is Malaysia on Jan. 13.

Meet the Fockers had a promising start in Mexico over the weekend, grossing $1,914,192 from 268 screens. That bested the original by 73% and topped recent comedy hits like 50 First Dates by 19%, American Pie 2 by 36%, and Along Came Polly by 90%. The impressive debut may open up Latin America for Fockers, which is one place Parents didn't excel. Overall the picture grossed $2,848,616 from 570 screens in countries for a$19,628,973 total.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie had surprising starts in Australia and New Zealand. The solid openings were in line with the U.S. premiere, but were surprising because no international territory has been too good for the picture. In Australia the Nickelodeon underwater comedy grossed $1,247,007 from 236 screens, good enough to rank fourth in the market. The opening was better than both of the Rugrats movies. New Zealand recorded $448,104 from 63 screens, which also bested the Rugrats movies.

Kung Fu Hustle added two markets over the weekend, which each recorded solid openings. Hustle opened best in Indonesia, grossing $270,688 from 42 screens, but also opened well in the Philippines, grossing $261,269 from 30 screens. Overall the picture grossed $4,736,376 from 1,100 screens in 8 markets for an impressive $46,239,905 total. Key figures include Japan's $8,700,010 in two weeks and China's $17,305,783 in three.

Lovely props to the horror genre there!!

This is awesome, well chuffed with GRUDGE, BLADE 3 and WHITE NOISE.

I'm not sure what these articles are on about when they say that Alexander had the 4th largest opening in Spain.....behind Shrek 2, Reloaded and TTT....

Aren't they forgetting that ROTK holds the record at $10m 5-Day followed closely by Shrek 2 with $9.5-10m 5-Day, Spiderman 2 at $7.8m 5-Day, TTT at $7.1m 5-Day and Reloaded at $7m......

That is remarkable for Incredibles to pass $300 Million, im really pleased for it, it deserves it far more than any film out at the moment.

Good for Oceans 12 also, doing good

Hmm...weird. Well Alexander has made $7,231,632 in 5 days, that'd give it the 4th biggest opening, but not behind Reloaded and TTT, but behind Shrek 2, Spider-Man 2 and ROTK.

Alexander's gross in Spain is incredible

Yes, but the Spaniards are known for stupid box office choices. Remember how big The Other was there?

Impressive for Alexander. Seems like it will at least match its production budget in WorldWide ticket sales. Of course it is still a long way from profitablity.

But that was directed by Alejandro Amenabar.

Dr. L, I think jb007 already knew who the director was. Give the guy some credit. I mean, yes, he liked Shrek 2, but he liked Minority Report too! That was a good movie! See where I'm going with this? That's right, running in circles.


Anywho, I predict The Phantom of the Opera to make $40m in Japan, and for God to bring about the Apocalypse soon after that.

Beware thou heathens! Beware! Etc.

Are you insinuating that The Others was a bad movie? Or comparing it to Alexander? In comprehensible.

I was talking to you!

And Dr. L,

but especially RogueCommander :dum: :black: :kriz:

@ Box and Dr. Lecter:

For all the fanatic following and play watched by millions, don't you consider Phantom to be a failure. If LOTR, Harry Potter and even Spiderman that had a huge following prior to movie release, can translate that into mega success, why can't Phantom? If somebody tells me it will make 60 mil. and be considered a success, I will barf :razz:

When people say The Terminal is a failure, It is due to the pedigree of the director and star. For most movies 200 mil. theatrical WW gross would be good since that puts the movie in the black.

The Phantom of the Opera, the movie, is doing ok. It will have a decent following on DVD, and it will turn a profit.


The Phantom of the Opera, the commodity (incl. the musical), is thriving. This is a humongous advertising campaign for it. Expect millions in revenues and profits for years to come from those channels.

This was, I think, the drive behind making a film anyways. The musical is still very much at the centre of it all. Keep in mind: tickets to musical cost 10 times more than to a film theatre, so even if it can get in an additional attendance corresponding to 1/10th of the audience that the film will, that's double the revenues right there. Extend that over a decade, and that's a vast amonut of cash.

It's not a bomb by any means.

Alexander, on the other hand, is a massive bomb. And no matter how great Spain's numbers are, it's still a bomb.