'Menace' blasts Oz B.O. records in o'seas debut
Pic opens to $1.5 mil; shatters 'ID4'
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George Lucas' epic grossed an estimated $A2.4 million ($1.5 million) in its opening day on 375 prints at 184 locations Down Under.
That shattered by 41% the previous first day record set by 20th Century Fox stablemate "Independence Day," which debuted on 351 prints.
The prequel's tally includes $640,000 from midnight screenings on 324 prints -- more than double "Independence Day's" haul from midnight shows.
Aussie exhibs were forecasting a four-day bounty of more than $5.1 million for "Phantom Menace," which would beat the current record held by "ID4." Some tradesters are confident Lucas' film will have enough momentum to wind its run with more than $A30 million ($19.2 million), outgrossing "Independence Day," which did just under $A30 million.
Australian reviewers grudgingly acknowledged the pic's major set pieces and special effects, but panned the acting, dialog and aspects of the storyline.
"Menace" also opened Thursday in Malaysia and Singapore (where the title has been available on pirated video compact disk since its U.S. launch), with Fox reporting strong figures for the midnight shows in both territories.
