Fockers Finish First for Fourth Frame

February 23, 2005

Note: This week we continue trying out a new format for the international box office. Previously we've published the top five as well as a section for, 'Other highlights' as one story. For the next few weeks these will be broken up into two stories: The Top Five, which will continue to be published on Wednesday, while the latter section will be published on the weekend. These extra few days should allow for more detailed figures from smaller markets.

Aided by number one debuts in 8 markets, Meet the Fockers easily topped the international box office with $28.1 million on 3,750 screens in 33 markets for a total of $153.7 million internationally, which tops the original's $139.6 million total. The film debuted in two major markets, bringing in $5.8 million on 629 screens in Germany and $4.3 million on 591 in France. The film also had $1 million openings in Austria ($1.1 million on 110 screens) and Belgium (an incredible $1.3 million on just 51 screens). In holdovers, the film was equally impressive, dropping just 25% during its second weekend in Italy and 36% in its fourth weekend in the U.K., where it remained in first place.

Constantine debuted in Germany and France, taking in $3.8 million and $3.6 million respectively. The film also debuted in first place in Spain with $2.7 million. Combined with typically steep drop-offs in Asian markets, the film saw its weekend box office climb to $15.5 million in 13 markets for $30.7 running tally.

The Aviator continues its march to $100 million, this week earning $6.6 million on 3,100 screens in 33 markets for an international box office of $70 million so far. Its biggest debut was in South Korea, where it could only manage a fourth place finish with $1.2 million on 170 screens, although it managed to stay in first place in Australia with $1.1 million there. It will need some strong legs, and preferably big Oscar wins to get to the $100 million mark.

Without any major openings Finding Neverland had to rely on strong holdovers to land in fourth place. Its $5.1 million weekend box office came mostly from $1.3 million in Spain, $1.2 million in Italy and $600,000 in Germany.

Rounding out the top five is the French film, Iznogoud: Calife à la Place du Calife, which slipped to second place in France, but still managed to earn $4.7 million on 700 screens in three French speaking markets. With $14.2 million already, it is safe to call this film a hit, but it is still unlikely that it will earn any crossover success.

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Filed under: International Box Office, Meet the Fockers, The Aviator, Constantine, Finding Neverland