Around the World Roundup: '10,000 B.C.' Pales Next to French Hit
Although 10,000 B.C. seemed to be the obvious candidate for first place last weekend at the foreign box office, Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis once again surprised and led the frame. After breaking the opening weekend record in France a week ago, Bienvenue saw a tiny ten percent drop there. The comedy earned a whopping $30.3 million gross from three territories with $28.7 million coming from France alone. Its $73.5 million French total already eclipses Astérix aux jeux olympiques's $59.3 million six-week haul and puts it en route to pass $100 million, a feat that only Titanic has accomplished there.

Opening in second place with $25.9 million from 20 markets, 10,000 B.C. was impressive. Not included in its first 20 markets was most of Europe, Japan and South Korea, indicating a relatively better start than its domestic launch. Although the prehistoric adventure's numbers weren't in The Day After Tomorrow range, they were better than Poseidon. It was most striking in Spain ($4.5 million) but disappointed in Germany ($2.9 million). It thrived in Thailand ($1.2 million) and Taiwan ($1.1 million) and was strong in India ($1.5 million), leading a traditionally local movie-dominated market despite going head-to-head with the local Black & White. 10,000 B.C. strikes most of the rest of the world this weekend before winding down in Japan on April 26.

Jumper eased two percent to $12.2 million from 41 territories for a $96 million total. Accounting for the small overall decline was a sturdy debut in Japan ($5.3 million from 554 screens), ranking second to the latest Doraemon picture. The opening was bigger than such past movies as 300 and Superman Returns. Still ahead for Jumper is Germany and Latin America, putting it on track to glide past $150 million.

Continuing its disappoint run with a $9.8 million weekend and $27.3 million overall, Vantage Point earned only $1.5 million in its Japanese opening and fell 53 percent in Spain. The thriller logged a first place start in the United Kingdom, but its $2.9 million gross there was not impressive. Its best market has been South Korea with a $5.2 million tally.

Italian comedy Grande, grosso e Verdone rounded out the Top Five with a terrific $8.5 million in its home market. For perspective, the debut was bigger than recent blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and all but one Harry Potter movie.

RELATED LINKS

• Foreign Weekend Box Office Results

• International Box Office Home Page