Around the World Roundup: ‘Benjamin Button’ Tops Quiet Weekend
The foreign box office was relatively quiet over the weekend due to a lack of new product in most markets. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button continued its reign with $21 million from 61 markets, lifting its total to $153 million. Although the fantastical drama was unremarkable in its debuts in seven smaller markets, its holdovers were solid. So far, its top markets are Japan ($16.8 million total), Germany ($16.1 million) and France ($14.7 million).
Bolt stayed in second place with $11.3 million from 35 markets, pushing its total past $150 million. In France, the animated comedy dropped just 10 percent for $15.1 million in three weeks, and it remained in first place in the United Kingdom, tallying $19.7 million in two weeks there.
The most impressive performance belonged to Slumdog Millionaire, which was up four percent to $8.4 million from 25 markets, boosting its total to $74.3 million. The drama's drop-off rates were slight across the board. In the U.K., it made $2.2 million in its seventh week, and, in France, it rose 15 percent for an $8.6 million total. Even in markets where movies normally play for only two or three weeks, Slumdog was held well, including Malaysia (off 8 percent), Singapore (22 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (31 percent). Like most of its previous openings, Slumdog's start in Mexico wasn't impressive, ranking third with $521,951, but it will rely on its multiple Oscar wins to help spread word-of-mouth.
He's Just Not That Into You slid 42 percent in the weekend after Valentine's Day, grossing $8 million from 25 markets for a $32.1 million total. The romantic comedy opened well in Greece ($219,316) and Singapore ($275,090) but fell steeply nearly everywhere else.
Valkyrie also took a steep dive over the weekend. Falling 41 percent, it rounded out the Top Five with $6.5 million from 50 territories for an $81.6 million total. The World War II thriller's only notable debut was in Greece, where it made $375,489. Up next for it is China this weekend and Japan on Mar. 20, which means it will most likely cross the $100 million mark.
Two Clint Eastwood pictures showed some box office chops. Changeling led Japan with a fantastic $2.5 million debut, knocking The Curious Case of Benjamin Button off the top spot. Gran Torino earned $480,273 in a limited launch in the U.K., where it will expand nationwide this weekend. The action drama has already grossed $7.8 million from only four markets, while Changeling has more than doubled the total combined grosses of Best Picture Oscar nominees The Reader, Milk and Frost/Nixon.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, a surprisingly successful movie climbed to first place. Weonang Sori (Old Partner), a documentary about a man and his cow, made $1.9 million from 276 screens over the weekend, beating out five new releases. The picture started back on Jan. 15 with $37,253 on seven screens and has already become the highest-grossing documentary ever there with $6.1 million.
Related Chart
• Foreign Weekend Box Office Results
Last Weekend
• 'Benjamin Button' Clings to Lead
Domestic Weekend Report
• 'Madea' Goes to Town
Bolt stayed in second place with $11.3 million from 35 markets, pushing its total past $150 million. In France, the animated comedy dropped just 10 percent for $15.1 million in three weeks, and it remained in first place in the United Kingdom, tallying $19.7 million in two weeks there.
The most impressive performance belonged to Slumdog Millionaire, which was up four percent to $8.4 million from 25 markets, boosting its total to $74.3 million. The drama's drop-off rates were slight across the board. In the U.K., it made $2.2 million in its seventh week, and, in France, it rose 15 percent for an $8.6 million total. Even in markets where movies normally play for only two or three weeks, Slumdog was held well, including Malaysia (off 8 percent), Singapore (22 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (31 percent). Like most of its previous openings, Slumdog's start in Mexico wasn't impressive, ranking third with $521,951, but it will rely on its multiple Oscar wins to help spread word-of-mouth.
He's Just Not That Into You slid 42 percent in the weekend after Valentine's Day, grossing $8 million from 25 markets for a $32.1 million total. The romantic comedy opened well in Greece ($219,316) and Singapore ($275,090) but fell steeply nearly everywhere else.
Valkyrie also took a steep dive over the weekend. Falling 41 percent, it rounded out the Top Five with $6.5 million from 50 territories for an $81.6 million total. The World War II thriller's only notable debut was in Greece, where it made $375,489. Up next for it is China this weekend and Japan on Mar. 20, which means it will most likely cross the $100 million mark.
Two Clint Eastwood pictures showed some box office chops. Changeling led Japan with a fantastic $2.5 million debut, knocking The Curious Case of Benjamin Button off the top spot. Gran Torino earned $480,273 in a limited launch in the U.K., where it will expand nationwide this weekend. The action drama has already grossed $7.8 million from only four markets, while Changeling has more than doubled the total combined grosses of Best Picture Oscar nominees The Reader, Milk and Frost/Nixon.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, a surprisingly successful movie climbed to first place. Weonang Sori (Old Partner), a documentary about a man and his cow, made $1.9 million from 276 screens over the weekend, beating out five new releases. The picture started back on Jan. 15 with $37,253 on seven screens and has already become the highest-grossing documentary ever there with $6.1 million.
Related Chart
• Foreign Weekend Box Office Results
Last Weekend
• 'Benjamin Button' Clings to Lead
Domestic Weekend Report
• 'Madea' Goes to Town
