International Top Five - Pirates Undisputed Champions of International Waters

August 9, 2006

For the fifth week in a row, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest dominated the international box office earning nearly five times what its nearest competition took in. Over the weekend it brought in $57.32 million on 8208 screens in 50 markets for a total of $392.22 million internationally and $771.92 million worldwide, (at the end of the weekend). A large chunk of this weekend's haul come from new openings, including a phenomenal $17.8 million on 700 screens in France. Other debuts include Hong Kong, ($1.6 million on 35 screens), and South Africa, ($670,000). The film is already the highest grossing movie of the year worldwide, and with strong holds and openings in Spain and Italy still to go, it could top The Da Vinci Code's international total as well, a total that currently sits at $530.38 million.

Gwoemul, a.k.a. The Host, remained in first place in South Korea and second place overall as the film was down a mere 2% from its opening, which is especially impressive given the historical norms in South Korea. Over the weekend the film added $12.33 million on 620 screens to its running tally, which now sits at $41.22 million. To put this into perspective, the film made in two weeks nearly twice as much as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest earned there in a month. Comparing it to the domestic market, that would be like earning $400 million in just 10 days.

New openings in few smaller markets couldn't help Superman Returns as it fell another 39% to $7.20 million on 4422 screens in 49 markets for an international total of $146.19 million. In Denmark the film open in first with $646,000 on 70 screens while in Holland it had to settle for second with $384,000 on 96 screens over the weekend and $414,000 in total. The film has a trio of major markets left to open in, (Germany, Japan and Italy), and it should cross $200 million before its final international release happens.

Over the Hedge climbed back into the top five thanks in part to its opening in Japan, but mostly due to strong gains in Germany. In Japan the film opened in eighth place with $915,000 on 291 screens, while in Germany it was up 32% to $1.98 million on 722 screens for a total of $17.67 million after a month of release. Overall the film made $7.12 million on 3430 screens in 34 markets for a total of $134.18 million internationally.

Miami Vice opened in its first major markets over the weekend scoring a first place, $4.26 million opening on 408 screens in the U.K. It also topped $1 million in Mexico with $1.01 million on 323 screens while struggling in Russia with $750,000 on 230. Adding in smaller opening and holdovers and the film made $7.03 million on 1188 screens in 11 markets for an early international total of $8.63 million. It's too early to make hard predictions about its international box office potential, but it should be able to top its domestic box office with relative ease.


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Filed under: International Box Office, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Superman Returns, Over the Hedge, Miami Vice