'Signs' Shines at Overseas Box Office
Tue Aug 20, 3:53 AM ET
By Don Groves
SYDNEY (Variety) - A heat wave and flooding in Europe, combined with the end of school vacations in some markets, flattened the box office on the Continent last weekend.
Mel Gibson's army of admirers flocked to "Signs" in Australia and Argentina, while "Mr. Deeds" saw promising offshore launches, and a controversial Mexican picture smashed local records.
M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs" conjured up $2.2 million Down Under. Disney's fourth highest premiere of all time, the four-day figure was 54% bigger than the writer/helmer's "Unbreakable," but 20% below "The Sixth Sense." In Argentina, "Signs" harvested $407,000, a Disney record in local currency (toppling "Unbreakable").
In its second turns, the Gibson starrer eased by just 19% in New Zealand, mustering $550,000 to date, but plunged by 48% in South Korea ( news - web sites), tallying $2.9 million, and by 60% in Hong Kong, totaling $900,000.
"Mr. Deeds" top scored in Germany, nabbing $2 million, 25% below "Big Daddy." "Mr. Deeds" checked into Austria in second spot behind fellow rookie "About a Boy," making $405,000, 15% bigger than "Daddy." "Deeds" led the field in German-speaking Switzerland with $163,000.
In Mexico, Sony's pick-up "El crimen del padre amoro" ("The Crime of Father Amoro") rang up $3.2 million, the market's sixth-highest debut ever and an all-time high for a Mexican pic, tripling previous champ "Y tu mama tambien" ("And Your Mother Too"). The distributor has acquired worldwide rights to the controversial picture about a wayward priest.
The weekend's pacesetter, "Men in Black II" rustled up $10 million in 53 territories, elevating its foreign total to $186.8 million, with Spain and Italy on the horizon. The sci-fi comedy saw No. 1 premieres in Belgium ($527,000) and Venezuela ($318,000) and retained pole position despite steep drops in France (a terrific $15.4 million in 12 days) and the U.K. ($25.5 million through its third lap).
"The Sum of All Fears" captured a fair $1.7 million in Blighty and, mirroring market trends, fell by 62% in its sophomore sessions in Germany, tallying $4.5 million, and by 51% in Spain for $3 million to date.
In Japan, the nuclear thriller abated by a moderate 27% in the key cities, and nationwide grossed $2.1 million, bringing its market total to a juicy $9.5 million in nine days. Its international is a handy $36.7 million in 28 countries.
In its first offshore tryout in the U.K., "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams" trapped $1.6 million, including previews -- no great shakes, but on par with the original's entry. "Austin Powers in Goldmember" hit $30.7 million in its fourth jaunt in the U.K., bowed in Hong Kong (not one of the franchise's strong territories) with a mild $264,000, and stumbled in Malaysia.
"Dragonfly" reigned in Spain with $1.4 million, its healthiest debut in a foreign career that has generated just $21.5 million, with Japan the only significant market ahead.
"Scooby-Doo" climbed to $92.1 million overseas after collaring a tame $1.3 million in Japan and a top-ranked $226,000 in Russia. The canine caper has fetched a tasty $8.3 million through its third outing in Mexico.
Boosted by the Obon vacation in Japan, "Ice Age" snowballed to $10.3 million in its third adventure, and its international total ascended to $182.9 million. Still ruling the roost in its sixth orbit in Japan, "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" hit $63.5 million, and its foreign haul vaulted to $317.2 million.
"Minority Report" moved up to $81.4 million overseas, spurred by South Korea's socko $14.5 million in four weeks and the U.K.'s $29.2 million, where it's now Tom Cruise's highest grosser ever.
"Lilo & Stitch" charmed audiences in the Philippines, drawing $235,000, bigger than "Monsters, Inc." and "Atlantis." Its foreign total reached $54.5 million with plenty of upside, as it's yet to play in Australia, Scandinavia, the U.K. and Japan.
"Return to Neverland" alighted in France with a decent $1.2 million; Disney's toon has picked up $23.9 million, with Japan still to come.
Entering Italy, its last major market, "Blade II" whipped up $954,000 -- 70% of the predecessor's lifetime earnings there. Its foreign total is $68.5 million.
Domestic dud "Eight Legged Freaks" is showing a bit more venom overseas, landing in Germany in second spot with $1.2 million. Excluding sneaks, that's 6% bigger than "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Its total is $11.5 million in 15 territories.
From Yahoo! News
Tue Aug 20, 3:53 AM ET
By Don Groves
SYDNEY (Variety) - A heat wave and flooding in Europe, combined with the end of school vacations in some markets, flattened the box office on the Continent last weekend.
Mel Gibson's army of admirers flocked to "Signs" in Australia and Argentina, while "Mr. Deeds" saw promising offshore launches, and a controversial Mexican picture smashed local records.
M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs" conjured up $2.2 million Down Under. Disney's fourth highest premiere of all time, the four-day figure was 54% bigger than the writer/helmer's "Unbreakable," but 20% below "The Sixth Sense." In Argentina, "Signs" harvested $407,000, a Disney record in local currency (toppling "Unbreakable").
In its second turns, the Gibson starrer eased by just 19% in New Zealand, mustering $550,000 to date, but plunged by 48% in South Korea ( news - web sites), tallying $2.9 million, and by 60% in Hong Kong, totaling $900,000.
"Mr. Deeds" top scored in Germany, nabbing $2 million, 25% below "Big Daddy." "Mr. Deeds" checked into Austria in second spot behind fellow rookie "About a Boy," making $405,000, 15% bigger than "Daddy." "Deeds" led the field in German-speaking Switzerland with $163,000.
In Mexico, Sony's pick-up "El crimen del padre amoro" ("The Crime of Father Amoro") rang up $3.2 million, the market's sixth-highest debut ever and an all-time high for a Mexican pic, tripling previous champ "Y tu mama tambien" ("And Your Mother Too"). The distributor has acquired worldwide rights to the controversial picture about a wayward priest.
The weekend's pacesetter, "Men in Black II" rustled up $10 million in 53 territories, elevating its foreign total to $186.8 million, with Spain and Italy on the horizon. The sci-fi comedy saw No. 1 premieres in Belgium ($527,000) and Venezuela ($318,000) and retained pole position despite steep drops in France (a terrific $15.4 million in 12 days) and the U.K. ($25.5 million through its third lap).
"The Sum of All Fears" captured a fair $1.7 million in Blighty and, mirroring market trends, fell by 62% in its sophomore sessions in Germany, tallying $4.5 million, and by 51% in Spain for $3 million to date.
In Japan, the nuclear thriller abated by a moderate 27% in the key cities, and nationwide grossed $2.1 million, bringing its market total to a juicy $9.5 million in nine days. Its international is a handy $36.7 million in 28 countries.
In its first offshore tryout in the U.K., "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams" trapped $1.6 million, including previews -- no great shakes, but on par with the original's entry. "Austin Powers in Goldmember" hit $30.7 million in its fourth jaunt in the U.K., bowed in Hong Kong (not one of the franchise's strong territories) with a mild $264,000, and stumbled in Malaysia.
"Dragonfly" reigned in Spain with $1.4 million, its healthiest debut in a foreign career that has generated just $21.5 million, with Japan the only significant market ahead.
"Scooby-Doo" climbed to $92.1 million overseas after collaring a tame $1.3 million in Japan and a top-ranked $226,000 in Russia. The canine caper has fetched a tasty $8.3 million through its third outing in Mexico.
Boosted by the Obon vacation in Japan, "Ice Age" snowballed to $10.3 million in its third adventure, and its international total ascended to $182.9 million. Still ruling the roost in its sixth orbit in Japan, "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" hit $63.5 million, and its foreign haul vaulted to $317.2 million.
"Minority Report" moved up to $81.4 million overseas, spurred by South Korea's socko $14.5 million in four weeks and the U.K.'s $29.2 million, where it's now Tom Cruise's highest grosser ever.
"Lilo & Stitch" charmed audiences in the Philippines, drawing $235,000, bigger than "Monsters, Inc." and "Atlantis." Its foreign total reached $54.5 million with plenty of upside, as it's yet to play in Australia, Scandinavia, the U.K. and Japan.
"Return to Neverland" alighted in France with a decent $1.2 million; Disney's toon has picked up $23.9 million, with Japan still to come.
Entering Italy, its last major market, "Blade II" whipped up $954,000 -- 70% of the predecessor's lifetime earnings there. Its foreign total is $68.5 million.
Domestic dud "Eight Legged Freaks" is showing a bit more venom overseas, landing in Germany in second spot with $1.2 million. Excluding sneaks, that's 6% bigger than "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Its total is $11.5 million in 15 territories.
From Yahoo! News