Buena Vista International (BVI) films amassed more than $60m over the weekend in which Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest dominated the world stage.
The adventure sequel's overseas performance complemented the record breaking North American debut by grossing an estimated $46.6m, an astonishing tally that produced runaway number one debuts in all seven of its markets.
Pirates took $25m in the UK on 514 screens, some 258% better than the 2003 original; $9m in South Korea on 350 for the biggest Hollywood launch in industry history fared 248% better than the original; and $8.1m in Australia on 281 that was 111% bigger than Curse of The Black Pearl.
Elsewhere it grossed $1.9m from 18 in Taiwan, $1.4m in Thailand, and $1.2m on 72 in New Zealand. Results for Uruguay were unconfirmed at time of writing.
By way of comparison when the original opened in these seven markets it grossed $12.3m. The picture opens next weekend in 18 territories including Russia, Scandinavia, and Singapore.
Meanwhile BVI's Cars added $14.6m for $65.1m. Highlights were a number one $3.7m debut in Spain on 350 screens and $531,000 on 105 in Belgium. Argentina stayed top in its second consecutive weekend on $500,000 for $1.5m, while Mexico and Brazil stand at $8.7m and $3.7m respectively.
Paramount's Over The Hedge mustered $20m from 4,376 sites in 36 territories to raise the international tally to $63m. The total includes South Korea, which is not handled by UIP.
The animated feature opened well in 14 territories. The highlights were number one debuts in Germany on $4.1m from 800 sites, France on $2.7m from 713 - a subdued result due to the national team's role in Sunday's World Cup final against Italy - and Mexico on $3m from 403.
Brazil generated $850,000 from 269, Austria opened top on $549,000 from 107, Chile produced $328,000 from 31, and the Netherlands produced $455,000 from 109.
Paramount's Mission: Impossible III produced a superb $12.5m number one opening on 800 screens in Japan through UIP that raised the international tally to $219.5m.
The result included previews and follows an extensive publicity tour in the country by Tom Cruise and director JJ Abrams, punctuated by the Tokyo premiere and a fan screening in Osaka.
Superman Returns generated $9.1m and 2.5m admissions from more than 1,800 prints through Warner Bros Pictures International (WBPI) to raise the early tally to $35.4m.
The superhero yarn opened top in South Africa and scored the fifth biggest opening for a Warner Bros picture on $553,000 including previews from 95 prints.
In second weekend holds, South Korea produced $2.2m from 271 to rank second on $8.8m; Australia added $1.5m from 409 to rank second on $6.7m; and the Philippines stayed top on $1.1m from 81 for $4.1m in what was the biggest industry second weekend in history.
Poseidon crossed $100m as it added $3.2m from approximately 3,000 prints for a $102m international running total.
Universal's The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift took $4m from 1,650 locations in 23 territories through UIP to raise the international running total to $32.5m.
The action sequel added $600,000 from 340 UK sites to rank fourth after four weeks and stands at $9.7m, passing the final gross of The Fast And The Furious on Saturday [July 8]. The picture has overtaken the original's tally in Australia, where it added $240,000 from 170 and ranks sixth after four.
In its second week Tokyo Drift added $830,000 from 294 for $3.3m in Mexico and ranks fourth in Mexico, and is expected to pass the $3.4m final gross of The Fast And The Furious on Monday [July 10]. There are 31 territories still to go including Germany and Italy next weekend.
The Break-Up added $2.2m from 1,300 sites in 17 territories for $21.8m. Portugal produced a $280,000 number one opening in 46 sites, while Brazil generated a fourth-place hold in the second weekend on $520,000 from 139 for $1.7m.
The comedy took a big hit in its third week in France because of the World Cup final as it added $240,000 from 250 for $2.9m to rank 11th. Mexico generated a fourth-place hold on $275,000 from 143 for $3.9m after three. There are 37 territories still to open including the UK on Jul 21.
United 93 grossed $1.2m from 525 sites in eight territories for a $9.3m international tally. It opened in second place on $700,000 from 199 sites in Italy, where cinema-going ranked a distant second to watching the Azzurri in the World Cup final. Belgium generated $250,000 from 32 sites in the other debut.
Fox International opened The Devil Wears Prada in its first market of Puerto Rico at the weekend. The comedy ranked second on $181,000 from 22 screens.
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties raised its international tally by $1.2m to $6.3m, powered by a $550,000 number one debut in Hong Kong on 37 screens. The family sequel opened in second place in Argentina on $166,000 on 72.
X-Men: The Last Stand grossed $1m over the weekend and stands at $205.5m.
Sony Pictures Releasing International's (SPRI) The Da Vinci Code took $3.6m from 3,000 screens in 65 markets to raise the running total to $514.7m. After seven weeks the adventure stands at $74.2m in Japan, $54.7m in the UK, $45.7m in Germany, and $32.4m in Spain.
The Adam Sandler comedy Click added $1.1m on 307 screens in three markets for $9.4m. Australia has amassed $8.2m and New Zealand stands at $985,000, both after three weekends.
SPRI's horror title Silent Hill opened in its first market of Mexico and took $865,000 on 300 screens.
SOURCE: ScreenDaily
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SR does only $9.1 million compared to last weekend $20 million
X3 does $1 million compared to last weekend's $2.5 million
I say X3 will top out with $450-455 million worldwide.
and PIRATES 2 is ****ING HUGE OVERSEAS.
I say this movie has broken several records overseas boxoffice. And could very well end up doing $550-600 million overseas with another $300-350 domestically.
WORLDWIDE- $850-950 worldwide
I'm loving my Disney stock right now.
