'M:I 2,' 'Dinosaur' enjoy sun raise o'seas
Pickings slim for rest of pack as Europe's eyes on soccer, not cinema
"Battlefield Earth" continued its string of losses by bombing in France, and the counterprogramming ploy of releasing "28 Days" in the U.K. and Italy didn't pay off; the Sandra Bullock starrer's cume is a lowly $14.9 million, with just five markets remaining.
Day-and-date with its limp domestic launch, "Titan A.E." sank in Singapore, but Fox Intl. is confident the animated pic will resonate more strongly when it rolls out in major markets. It kicks off July 7 in Brazil.
The red-hot "M:I 2" raked in $12.4 million from just 918 engagements in 11 countries, elevating cume to $24.3 million in only the third week of international release. John Woo's actioner grabbed $3.6 million in five days on 75 in South Korea (an all-time high), $2.7 million in ditto on 55 in Taiwan (the second-biggest bow ever there) and $2 million in six days on 90 in Argentina.
"Dinosaur" chomped up $1.4 million on 312 in Australia, the third-best animated bow behind "The Lion King" and "Toy Story 2," positioned to cash in on school vacations that begin June 26.
"Gladiator" earned $14.5 million in 23 territories, propelling its cume to $142.8 million. The Ridley Scott-helmed epic snared $3.3 million in five days on 215 in Japan, where auds have never been wild about Western costumers such as "Braveheart." In Korea, "Gladiator" is the first pic to sell more than 1 million ducats this year, grossing $6.3 million in 19 days and easing by a moderate 30% as "M:I 2" landed.
"Mission to Mars" lifted off in depressed Spain at No. 1; cume is $42 million.
"Gone in 60 Seconds" scored a whopping $200,000 in three days at four theaters in Russia -- the second-biggest opening for BVI in that territory next to "End of Days." The Nicolas Cage vehicle took a dandy $248,000 in five days on 40 in Denmark and abated by a reasonable 35% in New Zealand, tallying $508,000 in two weeks.
After impressive foreign preems, "Big Momma's House" slipped by a mere 20% in Mexico, ponying up a fat $2.2 million, and by 35% in Brazil for $910,000, both in 12 days.
In France, biz is being sustained by four Gallic crowd pleasers that collectively generated 69% of the frame's receipts. The top three titles are local offerings: Debutantes "Jet Set" (comedy set in the Paris nightclub scene) and "A Walk in the Woods" (a teenage slasher pic), plus holdover "Meilleur Espoir Feminin" (saga of a middle-aged hairdresser whose daughter aspires to be an actress, written by and toplining the popular Gerard Jugnot).
Rookies "Crazy" (local teen drama), "Girl, Interrupted" and "The Tigger Movie" failed to arouse auds in Germany. One Teutonic booker blamed the soccer championships, an array of outdoor street festivals and the warm, sunny weather.
