'M:I2,' 'X' hit, 'Patriot' misses at o'seas B.O.
Mixed bag for H'w'd abroad
Miramax's "Scary Movie" had a promising offshore launch in Singapore and "Gladiator" ascended to $205.6 million -- the fourth blockbuster to pass the double-century mark overseas this year after "Toy Story 2," "The Sixth Sense" and "American Beauty."
Released July 13 Down Under to catch the end of the school vacation, "X-Men" fetched $2.8 million on 245 screens, Fox Intl.'s third-highest opening week behind "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" and "Independence Day." The Bryan Singer-helmed caper, based on the Marvel comic book, has August dates in most of the world while Japan is pegged for September and Italy for October.
The "Mission" sequel rocketed to $164.4 million on the back of a $38.6 million frame in 34 markets, including socko debuts in Sweden ($1.2 million on 68, the third-best preem of all time), Thailand ($1.1 million in six days on 60, UIP's third-highest), the Philippines ($1.1 million on 159, No. 6 of all time, 41% ahead of the first) and Portugal ($620,000 in six days on 60, the industry's third-biggest).
'Mission' persistent
The John Woo-directed actioner generally held pretty well in its soph sessions in Japan (amassing a huge $29.4 million in 11 days, off 29%), Germany, the U.K., Spain and Italy. "M:I2" appears on course to match or exceed the take of the original pic, which did $286 million abroad.
"The Patriot" fired up an estimated $8.3 million from 1,812 engagements in nine countries but could not conquer the B.O. in three major markets. The Mel Gibson starrer cantered into the U.K. as a distant No. 3 behind the rampaging "Chicken Run" in its third and "M:I2," wounded by much chatter over its historical accuracy and the way it portrays the Brits.
The Revolutionary War saga trailed "Gladiator's" fourth lap in France (although Gallic exhibs say it should benefit from word-of-mouth) and entered Mexico at No. 2 behind "Dinosaur" in Columbia TriStar's third-highest preem there after "Godzilla" and "Men in Black."
The Roland Emmerich-helmed epic did take pole position in Argentina and the minor markets of Colombia, South Africa, Israel, French-speaking Switzerland and Slovakia, where it's nice to be No. 1 but the rewards are chicken feed compared with those of the major territories.
Dinos roar
"Dinosaur" snared a phenomenal $1.9 million on 43 in Hong Kong -- Buena Vista Intl.'s second-best opening ever, just 7% shy of "Toy Story 2," and this year's second-highest behind "Mission 2."
The creature feature smashed BVI's toon records in South Korea, minting $1.7 million in three days on 71 (beating "Tarzan" by 50%) and Taiwan at $605,000 in two days on 16 (15% ahead of the loin-clothed hero). "Dinosaur" harvested $13.7 million in 20 countries, hiking its cume to $41.2 million, including a whammo $9.9 million in Mexico and $3.8 million in Argentina, both after 12 days.
"Scary Movie" notched a better per-engagement average than "Scream 3" in Singapore, released without cuts but with an R(A) rating, which restricts the number of venues where it can play and thus the audience potential. One exhib expects the horror spoof to outgross "American Pie," and says that will show that Singaporeans are becoming more worldly about gross-out fare. The exhib thinks local distrib Shaw Bros. could have delayed the preem for a week to get more capital from the U.S. hype, but agrees that would have allowed pirates to make a killing with VCD copies.
Tot tussle in Japan
"Stuart Little" had a fair start in Japan and should bounce during the school vacation that has just begun; with a cume of about $107.3 million, it's the 10th hit to clock $100 million this year. The third "Pocket Monsters" was affected by "Stuart" and two other local animated releases -- "Ojarumaru" and "Cardcaptor Sakura" -- but has ponied up a fine $7.4 million in 11 days.
"Me, Myself & Irene" drew a fair number of Jim Carrey fans in Spain, taking $1.3 million in six days on 270, and Belgium for $485,000 on 68, and had reasonable soph sessions in Mexico and Taiwan. Cume is about $15.5 million from 17 territories.
"Final Destination" saw spry bows in France and Brazil in a patchy foreign run that has generated $31.6 million in 28 territories. The New Line pic bombed in Oz and Southeast Asia but has earned a terrif $13.5 million in the U.K. and a solid $4.1 million in Spain.
Gaul glut
There was heavy traffic in France as 17 films unspooled last week, following the prior frame's 15 debutantes. The spike in summer releases is fueled by a campaign by national film body CNC, which rewards distribs with twice the usual subsidy (nearly $1 per ducat) for all homegrown titles launched between June 15 and Aug. 15.
"The Perfect Storm" blew into Greece with $579,000 in six days on 45, an all-time high for Warner Bros., toppling "The Matrix," and marking the industry's third-best bow there behind "Titanic" and "Armageddon."
Director Ang Lee's Chinese-lingo actioner "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" appears to be skewing upscale rather than connecting with the mainstream in Asia, resulting in fairly sharp drops in its second weekends. Progressive scores are $1.7 million in Taiwan, $1.4 million in Hong Kong, $846,000 in Singapore and $608,000 in Malaysia.
