'A.I.' storms Japan
Widest release ever smashes B.O. records
That stands as a WB Japanese record (eclipsing "The Matrix" by 164%), the best June entry (trouncing "The Mummy Returns" by 166%), the biggest two-day opening, excluding sneaks, and the highest for a nonsequel (topping "Independence Day" by 34%).
The Haley Joel Osment-Jude Law starrer sold 1,037,879 tickets -- an all-time record, beating the 916,540 ducats clocked by "Star Wars: Episode I --The Phantom Menace."
It fell just 7% short of the ultimate prize -- the biggest debut ever, including sneaks -- held by "Phantom Menace."
However, WB was quick to point out that "A.I." would have taken the crown if its release had not fallen on the first day of the month, when ticket prices in four-fifths of the country are discounted by 44%.
Also, George Lucas' epic had the benefit of two full days of previews, while Spielberg's had one.
Femme skew
Illustrating its dominance, "A.I." garnered 64% of the total Japanese market for the weekend. Bill Ireton, managing director of WB Japan, told Daily Variety 65% of audiences are female -- core ages are mid-20s to mid-30s -- and many found the pic so emotionally powerful they were moved to tears. WB is shooting for a first-week haul of $17.5 million-$18.5 million.
Elsewhere, it was a mixed bag for U.S. releases. "Shrek" had a monster preem in the U.K., fetching $6.6 million on 475 screens, with previews, UIP's seventh-best bow ever there. That's a local record for DreamWorks; 52% ahead of "Tarzan" and 74% better than "Dinosaur."
But the ogre could manage only third place in Taiwan behind the soph sessions of "The Mummy Returns" and "Pearl Harbor," taking $372,000 on 48. It was 104% bigger than "Chicken Run," which isn't saying much.
"Pearl Harbor" raked in $10.6 million overseas, hoisting its cume to $110.8 million. The WWII epic brought in $950,000 on 118 in Thailand, including previews, the industry's fifth-biggest preem ever, slightly under "Armageddon." Pic set BVI opening records, measured in admissions, in Holland, where there was a two-for ticket promotion, and earned $600,000 on 135, beating "Armageddon"; and in Denmark, pic took in $444,000 on 57 (50% better than the 1998 Bruce Willis starrer).
"Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" was the frame's top earner, stealing about $22.7 million from 2,585 engagements in 16 markets, but its results were erratic.
The Paramount/Mutual pic seized pole position in France with $3.7 million on 696 (14% ahead of "The Mummy Returns," which was no barn-burner there) and an estimated $3.6 million on 714 in Germany -- neither perf in the stratosphere.
The Angelina Jolie starrer was relatively more muscular in South Korea (pulling in an estimated $2 million on 156), Norway ($552,000 on 69) and South Africa ($346,000 on 78); it was No. 2 in Sweden behind local pic "Beck" ($647,000 on 58).
'Swordfish' has password
The actioner plunged by 54% Down Under, tallying $4.5 million in 11 days, skewered by "Swordfish," which logged on with a potent $1.6 million on 208, 39% better than "The Rock" and 25% ahead of "Face/Off." Simon West's romp tumbled by 41% in Spain, racking up a swell $3.8 million in 10 days.
After indifferent debuts in Singapore and Malaysia, "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" ventured to Brazil, uncovering a fair $300,000 on 180, on par with "Pocahontas" and fractionally below "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Hercules."
Ivan Reitman's "Evolution" launched in Spain at No. 2 (a so-so $862,000 on 281) and took the top spot in Singapore ($310,000 on 29).
The sci-fi comedy eased by a reasonable 26% in the U.K., making $5.9 million in 10 days.
The "Mummy" sequel levitated to $185.4 million, spurred by Japan's $22.5 million through its fourth lap, where it fell 35% in the key cities where "A.I." materialized.
