Around the World Roundup: 'Charlie' Tops Again, 'Pride' & 'Gromit' Premiere
With a lack of wide release competition and strong debuts in Norway and South Korea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remained the top foreign draw over the weekend, grossing $12.8 million from 53 markets for a $176.3 million total.
Tim Burton's fantastical family feature stormed Norway with 1.5 million from 97 screens, the biggest opening of the year and distributor Warner Bros.' all time fourth best start behind the Harry Potter movies. Neighboring Sweden wasn't as impressive but was still solid, with $586,000 from 125 screens (including previews).
In South Korea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory grabbed $1.8 million from 106 screens. The debut was bolstered by the country's busy Thanksgiving holiday, which suggests a large drop for its sophomore session.
Despite strong competition from four openers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory eased 26 percent in its second weekend in Japan. It grossed $3.2 million to tally $11.2 million, which is 45 percent ahead of Madagascar and Shrek 2 at the same points and suggests a final total north of $35 million.
Next up for Charlie is Italy, followed by Denmark the week after, which will be the final significant stop of its foreign campaign.
Premiering in its native United Kingdom before its domestic launch on Nov. 18, Pride and Prejudice dominated the British market with a resoundingly good $4.6 million opening from 397 screens, including previews. In local currency, the opening topped Shakespeare in Love by 26 percent and Billy Elliot by 49 percent.
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit also got the jump on its domestic bow (Oct. 7) with openings in Australia and New Zealand prior to local school holidays, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as Pride and Prejudice. Aardman Animation's claymation feature opened in third place in Australia with $1.3 million from 253 screens ($1.9 million including sneak previews from two weekends ago). Still, the debut did top Aardman's previous movie, Chicken Run, by 10 percent. Wallace and Gromit also opened in New Zealand, grossing $175,518 from 57 screens.
Madagascar continued roaring runs in Italy and Scandinavia. In its third weekend in Italy, the computer-animated comedy made $3.4 million, down 34 percent, for a $21.9 million total. Overall, its weekend came to $6.3 million, and the total stands at $316 million.
In its second weekend overseas, Cinderella Man packed a little punch after a slew of mediocre launches last week. In Japan, the Russell Crowe boxing drama scored a solid $1.8 million from 250 screens amidst a crowded marketplace, and it bested last year's Oscar winner, Million Dollar Baby, by 15 percent. Cinderella Man also beat Crowe's own Oscar winner, A Beautiful Mind, in both France ($1.1 million from 385 screens) and South Korea ($1 million from 150).
Cinderella Man was still on its feet in second rounds in the U.K. and Mexico. In the U.K., it eased 29 percent for a $2.4 million total, and it was a down a mere five percent in Mexico's mere 5 percent for a $1.5 million tally. Overall, it grossed $8.5 million for a two-week total of $16 million.
Fantastic Four blazed in to Italy with an excellent $4.9 million from 551 screens. The Marvel Comics adaptation was cooler in Japan with $1.8 million from 453 screens. Its foreign haul rose to $158.8 million.
In Russia, The Brothers Grimm recorded another strong $1.3 million start from 232 screens. Holdovers were good too. For instance, Spain fell 35 percent to $1.1 million for a $3.4 million total. Early in its foreign run, Terry Gilliam's comedy has grossed $9 million so far.
Monster-in-Law was on top in Spain with a superb $2 million from 311 screens, out-clawing the past debuts of Something's Gotta Give and What Women Want. With Italy one of its few remaining markets, the comedic match up between Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda has nabbed a sturdy $58.8 million overall.
The Dukes of Hazard grabbed $3.2 million from 16 markets for a $16.4 million total, fueled by excellent start in Australia. Grossing $2.4 million from 275 screens, the action comedy was a surprise hit, outperforming Jackass: The Movie by 94 percent and DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story by 32 percent.
Other foreign weekend grosses included Red Eye's $4.4 million for a $17.3 million total, The Skeleton Key's $2.3 million for a $35.9 million total, The Island's $2.1 million for a $121.3 million total, Sky High's $1.5 million for a $2.7 million total and The 40 Year-Old-Virgin's $1.4 million (from just the U.K.) for an impressive $9 million total.
Tim Burton's fantastical family feature stormed Norway with 1.5 million from 97 screens, the biggest opening of the year and distributor Warner Bros.' all time fourth best start behind the Harry Potter movies. Neighboring Sweden wasn't as impressive but was still solid, with $586,000 from 125 screens (including previews).
In South Korea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory grabbed $1.8 million from 106 screens. The debut was bolstered by the country's busy Thanksgiving holiday, which suggests a large drop for its sophomore session.
Despite strong competition from four openers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory eased 26 percent in its second weekend in Japan. It grossed $3.2 million to tally $11.2 million, which is 45 percent ahead of Madagascar and Shrek 2 at the same points and suggests a final total north of $35 million.
Next up for Charlie is Italy, followed by Denmark the week after, which will be the final significant stop of its foreign campaign.
Premiering in its native United Kingdom before its domestic launch on Nov. 18, Pride and Prejudice dominated the British market with a resoundingly good $4.6 million opening from 397 screens, including previews. In local currency, the opening topped Shakespeare in Love by 26 percent and Billy Elliot by 49 percent.
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit also got the jump on its domestic bow (Oct. 7) with openings in Australia and New Zealand prior to local school holidays, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as Pride and Prejudice. Aardman Animation's claymation feature opened in third place in Australia with $1.3 million from 253 screens ($1.9 million including sneak previews from two weekends ago). Still, the debut did top Aardman's previous movie, Chicken Run, by 10 percent. Wallace and Gromit also opened in New Zealand, grossing $175,518 from 57 screens.
Madagascar continued roaring runs in Italy and Scandinavia. In its third weekend in Italy, the computer-animated comedy made $3.4 million, down 34 percent, for a $21.9 million total. Overall, its weekend came to $6.3 million, and the total stands at $316 million.
In its second weekend overseas, Cinderella Man packed a little punch after a slew of mediocre launches last week. In Japan, the Russell Crowe boxing drama scored a solid $1.8 million from 250 screens amidst a crowded marketplace, and it bested last year's Oscar winner, Million Dollar Baby, by 15 percent. Cinderella Man also beat Crowe's own Oscar winner, A Beautiful Mind, in both France ($1.1 million from 385 screens) and South Korea ($1 million from 150).
Cinderella Man was still on its feet in second rounds in the U.K. and Mexico. In the U.K., it eased 29 percent for a $2.4 million total, and it was a down a mere five percent in Mexico's mere 5 percent for a $1.5 million tally. Overall, it grossed $8.5 million for a two-week total of $16 million.
Fantastic Four blazed in to Italy with an excellent $4.9 million from 551 screens. The Marvel Comics adaptation was cooler in Japan with $1.8 million from 453 screens. Its foreign haul rose to $158.8 million.
In Russia, The Brothers Grimm recorded another strong $1.3 million start from 232 screens. Holdovers were good too. For instance, Spain fell 35 percent to $1.1 million for a $3.4 million total. Early in its foreign run, Terry Gilliam's comedy has grossed $9 million so far.
Monster-in-Law was on top in Spain with a superb $2 million from 311 screens, out-clawing the past debuts of Something's Gotta Give and What Women Want. With Italy one of its few remaining markets, the comedic match up between Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda has nabbed a sturdy $58.8 million overall.
The Dukes of Hazard grabbed $3.2 million from 16 markets for a $16.4 million total, fueled by excellent start in Australia. Grossing $2.4 million from 275 screens, the action comedy was a surprise hit, outperforming Jackass: The Movie by 94 percent and DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story by 32 percent.
Other foreign weekend grosses included Red Eye's $4.4 million for a $17.3 million total, The Skeleton Key's $2.3 million for a $35.9 million total, The Island's $2.1 million for a $121.3 million total, Sky High's $1.5 million for a $2.7 million total and The 40 Year-Old-Virgin's $1.4 million (from just the U.K.) for an impressive $9 million total.
