The top trio of pics reaped a combined $70.7 million overseas last week, buoying the spirits of exhibs in most major markets, most notably in France, where tradesters say it was the strongest frame in the past 12 months.
The pacesetter was "Toy Story 2," which minted $35.4 million as its score raced to $138.3 million -- the second blockbuster to earn $100 million this year and the 10th consecutive Disney animated pic to cross that mark.
The Disney/Pixar crowd-pleaser began brilliantly in Holland and Finland, and after its record-shattering first week wide in the U.K. actually jumped 29% for a socko $37.6 million in 20 days. "Toy" had a buoyant second lap in Italy and a thrilling third in France and Spain, but results weren't exceptional in Germany, where exhibs noted there wasn't much hype for the pic and auds may still be wary of computer-animated fare.
Euros take to 'Beach'
"The Beach" netted $18.3 million from generally potent bows in eight markets -- claiming pole position in each -- and holdovers in six territories, propelling its cume to $30.2 million. The international cast and director, a theme that appeals more to European sensibilities.
Danny Boyle's meller posted the second-best preem of the year in France behind mercurial "The Sixth Sense," boosted by the allure of Gallic thesps Guillaume Canet and Virginie Ledoyen. Fox's pic set sail impressively in Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and South Africa, but the German debut didn't quite match expectations after unspooling at the Berlin festival and the hoopla there generated by DiCaprio's visit.
Buy 'American'
"American Beauty" amassed $17 million from 21 territories, elevating the film's cume to $70.6 million as it enjoyed healthy gains in many markets from its Academy Award noms. The Kevin Spacey-Annette Bening starrer took a uniformly stellar $640,000 in six days on 50 in Argentina, $491,000 at 26 'burbs in Greece and $340,000 on 31 in Turkey. Sam Mendes' pic had similarly strong receptions in Hungary, Denmark, Czech/Slovakia and New Zealand.
"The Sixth Sense" ascended to $211.3 million in the BVI markets plus an estimated $119 million in the Spyglass territories, and its worldwide cume was set to overtake the $615 million of "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" to become the ninth most popular title ever.
"The Blair Witch Project" bewitched lots of folks in Italy, sending its tally to $100 million. Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" had lusty launches in Belgium, Switzerland, Singapore, and Malaysia; estimated cume is $55 million.
'Moon' eclipsed
But the frame was marked by some under-achievers. Jim Carrey's fans in Australia weren't much interested in "Man on the Moon" as exhibs reported walkouts by young viewers who evidently found it wasn't what they expected.
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" looked lively in Taiwan and was OK in Brazil and Israel but struggled in Germany, where one booker says, "It's too long, and although the actors are great, most viewers can't identify with Matt Damon's character."
In its first major markets, "The End of the Affair" was little noticed in Italy but hung in well in its second week in Blighty. "Topsy-Turvy" was adored by U.K. critics, but the notices didn't translate into ticket sales except in London.
"The Green Mile" had sturdy soph sessions in Germany, Australia and Mexico; early in its offshore run, cume is $12.8 million from nine markets.
"The World Is Not Enough" hit $216.4 million after pocketing $5.4 million abroad, spurred by Japan's rousing $12 million in 19 days.
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