Around-the-World Roundup: 'Eclipse,' 'Shrek 4' Lead Foreign Boom
With World Cup fever finally starting to die down, the overseas box office came alive over the weekend. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse led again, while animated movies Shrek Forever After and Toy Story 3 expanded and saw aggregate gains. Among new releases, Predators opened day-and-date in 22 territories while The Last Airbender and Despicable Me each debuted in four countries.
Eclipse invaded 21 new territories and was off 22 percent to $81.1 million. It had the best opening of the year in both the United Kingdom and France, where it made $20.7 million and $12.4 million, respectively (though $5.7 million of the U.K.'s total came from preview screenings last weekend). It also debuted to approximately $6.7 million in South Korea, which was a significant improvement over both Twilight and New Moon. With a massive $219 million from 63 international territories, Eclipse has officially passed the first Twilight movie in both overseas and worldwide earnings, though it still has a long way to go before overtaking New Moon's $413.1 million foreign total.
Nearly two months after its first overseas opening, Shrek Forever After had its best weekend yet, up 32 percent to $56.4 million. This increase was due mostly to a handful of solid starts, including $7.1 million in Brazil, $5 million in Spain, $3.2 million in Argentina and $2.8 million in Poland. Through Sunday, Shrek Forever After had earned $209.6 million from 41 overseas territories for a worldwide total of $442 million.
Shrek isn't the only animated movie rounding up strong overseas returns: Toy Story 3 added five territories this weekend and was up 15 percent to $36.2 million. This included an $11.1 million opening in Japan, which marked the best start ever there for a U.S. animated feature, and a $5.1 million opening in Italy. To date Toy Story 3 has earned $221.9 million overseas, and is set to hit theaters in France and Hong Kong this weekend.
Predators debuted on 3,155 screens in 22 territories, grossing $17.3 million. Its best opening came in the U.K., where it finished in third place with $3.3 million. Other territories of note were Russia ($2.8 million), Japan ($2.7 million), Australia ($2.4 million) and Germany ($1.2 million).
The Karate Kid expanded and had its best weekend so far with $10.9 million. The improvement came mainly from a $3.5 million launch in Mexico and a $3.1 million opening in Australia. So far, The Karate Kid has earned $43.6 million overseas for a worldwide total of $209.4 million.
Knight & Day also added territories and was up 31 percent to $10.5 million. Over half of its grosses came from sizeable debuts in China ($4.8 million) and India ($1.5 million). Through its third weekend, Knight & Day has made $38.6 million overseas, crossing the $100 million mark worldwide.
The Last Airbender opened to $9.6 million in four territories, the majority of which was from a $7.7 million start in Russia. It's set to debut next weekend in Japan and a handful of smaller territories. Despicable Me also opened in four markets, though it earned a more modest $4.9 million.
Domestic Weekend Report:
• Weekend Report: 'Despicable Me' Dominates, 'Predators' Solid But Unspectacular
Last Weekend's Around-the-World Roundup:
• 'Eclipse' Draws Big Numbers
Eclipse invaded 21 new territories and was off 22 percent to $81.1 million. It had the best opening of the year in both the United Kingdom and France, where it made $20.7 million and $12.4 million, respectively (though $5.7 million of the U.K.'s total came from preview screenings last weekend). It also debuted to approximately $6.7 million in South Korea, which was a significant improvement over both Twilight and New Moon. With a massive $219 million from 63 international territories, Eclipse has officially passed the first Twilight movie in both overseas and worldwide earnings, though it still has a long way to go before overtaking New Moon's $413.1 million foreign total.
Nearly two months after its first overseas opening, Shrek Forever After had its best weekend yet, up 32 percent to $56.4 million. This increase was due mostly to a handful of solid starts, including $7.1 million in Brazil, $5 million in Spain, $3.2 million in Argentina and $2.8 million in Poland. Through Sunday, Shrek Forever After had earned $209.6 million from 41 overseas territories for a worldwide total of $442 million.
Shrek isn't the only animated movie rounding up strong overseas returns: Toy Story 3 added five territories this weekend and was up 15 percent to $36.2 million. This included an $11.1 million opening in Japan, which marked the best start ever there for a U.S. animated feature, and a $5.1 million opening in Italy. To date Toy Story 3 has earned $221.9 million overseas, and is set to hit theaters in France and Hong Kong this weekend.
Predators debuted on 3,155 screens in 22 territories, grossing $17.3 million. Its best opening came in the U.K., where it finished in third place with $3.3 million. Other territories of note were Russia ($2.8 million), Japan ($2.7 million), Australia ($2.4 million) and Germany ($1.2 million).
The Karate Kid expanded and had its best weekend so far with $10.9 million. The improvement came mainly from a $3.5 million launch in Mexico and a $3.1 million opening in Australia. So far, The Karate Kid has earned $43.6 million overseas for a worldwide total of $209.4 million.
Knight & Day also added territories and was up 31 percent to $10.5 million. Over half of its grosses came from sizeable debuts in China ($4.8 million) and India ($1.5 million). Through its third weekend, Knight & Day has made $38.6 million overseas, crossing the $100 million mark worldwide.
The Last Airbender opened to $9.6 million in four territories, the majority of which was from a $7.7 million start in Russia. It's set to debut next weekend in Japan and a handful of smaller territories. Despicable Me also opened in four markets, though it earned a more modest $4.9 million.
Domestic Weekend Report:
• Weekend Report: 'Despicable Me' Dominates, 'Predators' Solid But Unspectacular
Last Weekend's Around-the-World Roundup:
• 'Eclipse' Draws Big Numbers
