Holiday draws auds
'Erin,' 'Pokemon' beat the heat to score B.O.
“Scream 3” thrilled Gallic auds, “American Psycho” had a stirring debut in the U.K., especially in London, while “The Beach” attracted only a moderate number of Leonardo DiCaprio admirers in Japan.
Playing at a total of 3,500 engagements, “Erin Brockovich” fetched an estimated $15.3 million from potent preems in nine territories including Brazil and South Africa, and holdovers.
The Julia Roberts starrer’s cume through April 27 hit an estimated $48.2 million, buoyed by sparkling soph sessions Australia, Italy and Mexico and its third laps in the U.K., Germany and Spain.
Kid-fare plays well
“Pokemon” banked $13.6 million from 3,010 screens in 16 countries, spurred by Italy’s $2.9 million in eight days on 369 prints (the opening weekend was Warner Bros.’ second-best ever), Holland’s $742,000 on 111 and Greece’s $201,000 in six days on 41. The English-lingo version’s cume topped $59 million.
Apart from cinema-unfriendly weather, Italians were not inspired to turn out for rookies “The Muse” (the Sharon Stone vehicle optimistically retitled “The Goddess of Success”), “The House on Haunted Hill” and Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespearian romp “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”
‘Bread’ rises
One shining light among an uncommonly bleak season for Italo productions is Silvio Soldini’s “Bread and Tulips,” a comedy about a restless housewife who takes a vacation from her family and finds freedom and love in Venice
After nabbing nine statues at the national David di Donatello film awards, including best film, director, actress, actor, supporting thesps and screenplay, pic surged by 49% over Easter in its eighth frame at just 49 boudoirs. By May 1 its cume is expected to pass $2 million.
“Stuart Little” drew plenty of tykes in Germany and had a fantastic third week in Australia, but the mouse tale is running out of legs in its third lap in Italy. All told, “Stuart” chewed up about $10.1 million from 3,032 playdates and its cume reached an estimated $73.7 million.
‘Scream’ dream
In France, where lousy weather was good for business, “Scream 3’s” formidable preem beat its predecessor’s entry by a whopping 60%. Distrib Bac primed auds by starting to air trailers last December and ensuring lots of media coverage. Pic has grossed about $26 million.
Expectations were high in France for historical drama “La Veuve de Saint Pierre,” directed by Patrice Lecont, but its fifth-spot debut was rated disappointing.
In its last major market, “The Beach” lapped up $3.7 million in five days on 241 in Japan. It’s probable that Japanese auds were turned off by the negative reviews and publicity that pummeled the pic in the U.S. and other markets. But Danny Boyle’s meller has more than doubled its $39.6 million domestic result overseas, racking up $88.4 million, fueled by the U.K.’s $21.2 million, France’s $8.5 million and Mexico’s $3.4 million.
Early in its foreign campaign, “Romeo Must Die” grabbed $494,000 in six days on 27 screens in Singapore, the biggest bow of the year to date and Warner’s fifth-best of all time.
Those stats look even more impressive considering the B.O. in Singapore is tracking 28% below last year. The Jet Li starrer stole $874,000 in five days on 54 in Taiwan and had sturdy, but not great, debuts in Hong Kong and the Philippines.
The remarkably consistent “American Beauty” advanced to $179.2 million before its April 29 launch in Japan, where “Toy Story 2” raced past “The Lion King” to rank as Disney’s second most popular animated hit, behind only “Aladdin,” raking raked in $30.2 million after its seventh weekend. The family pic’s cume is $233.2 million.
Juvenile juice
In the U.K., “Kevin and Perry Go Large,” a gross-out laffer based on popular TV characters, about two pubescent boys who go to the holiday resort of Ibiza determined to have sex for the first time, had a boffo bow.
“The Tigger Movie” improved by 34% in its second lap in the U.K. after a slow start and in Italy had a quiet initial weekend but proved stronger on weekdays. “Tigger” is a hot item in Mexico, devouring $3.2 million in 13 days.
Australian exhibs described the Easter vacation as a bit below what they’d hoped for, pointing to a “just OK” preem by submarine saga “U-571,” a sub-par entry by “Me, Myself, I,” Aussie romantic comedy toplining Rachel Griffiths from helmer Pip Karmel, and a soft second turn by “Final Destination.”
In Germany, “Erkan & Stefan,” a local effort about two dimwitted pals, didn’t tickle many funnybones, while “The Whole Nine Yards” stumbled and Kevin Smith’s “Dogma” added to its string of failed overseas openings. The religious-themed pic was judged too esoteric to appeal to German sensibilities; its cume is a measly $10.3 million from 19 territories
