Tie win in o'seas B.O.
'Pearl,' 'A.I.' split hairs over weekend victory
Going by the industry norm, "Pearl Harbor" commanded top spot, earning an outstanding $7.2 million on 430 screens, including the prior Saturday's sneaks. That ranks as a BVI Japan record (edging out "Armageddon" by 1%), 80% ahead of "Saving Private Ryan's" entry and the market's sixth-highest preem in history behind "Star Wars: Episode One -- Phantom Menace," "A.I.," "Mission: Impossible 2," "Independence Day" and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park."
Steven Spielberg's "A.I." raked in $5.4 million in its third frame on 518, abating by a mere 17%, hoisting its cume to a socko $37 million. WB hailed that as market's biggest third weekend ever, 109% ahead of the comparable frame of "Jurassic Park" and 121% better than "Mission: Impossible 2."
The distrib claims "A.I.'s" third lap was fractionally ahead of "Pearl Harbor's" weekend, excluding the latter's Friday night previews; however it's standard practice to include sneaks in first weekend tallies. Also, "Pearl Harbor's" length restricts it to three sessions a day -- and "A.I." is playing on more screens.
All told, the WWII epic amassed $14.5 million from 4,270 engagements in 40 markets, and the cume rocketed to $150.1 million, including Germany's phenom $24 million through its sixth lap (off just 5%), Spain's $3.2 million in 10 days (down 30%) and Sweden's $1.9 million in ditto (jumping by 23%, helped by lousy weather).
Fairy-tale earner
Kudos for the frame's highest earner goes to "Shrek," which minted an estimated $16.5 million from around 3,300 screens in 24 markets. DreamWorks' ogre devoured a strong but not exceptional $1.3 million on 282 in Spain, where hot weather subdued the B.O.; a terrif $450,000 on 112 in Holland (beating "Toy Story 2" by 23% and "A Bug's Life" by 153%) and $313,000 on 52 in Poland (10% higher than "Dinosaur").
Toon slipped by just 20% in South Korea, drawing a whammo $4.6 million in nine days; improved by 2% in Germany ($6.5 million in 11 days); and eased by 15% in France ($6.8 million in 12 days).
Day-and-date with domestic, "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" launched fairly well in Hong Kong with $423,000 on 27, No. 3 behind the soph sessions of Cantonese comedy "Shaolin Soccer" and "Shrek." Computer-animated sci-fier took pole position in Singapore ($304,000 on 30), Malaysia ($232,000 on 35) and the Philippines ($193,000 on 49).
The omens for "Jurassic Park III" are pretty awesome judging by the response to the world's first paid previews: $280,000 in three days on 50 in Singapore (eclipsing the sneaks of "Pearl Harbor" and "M:I2") and $200,000 on 41 in Malaysia (trumping sneaks of "The Mummy Returns," "Pearl Harbor" and "M:I-2."). Dinopic debuts in 12 markets this weekend, day-and-date with the U.S.
"Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" stole an estimated $11.4 million from 23 markets, and its cume hit approximately $67.2 million, driven by Taiwan's smash $1.2 million in two days on 48, Thailand's $498,000 in three days on 104, the U.K.'s $10.9 million in 10 days (off by a reasonable 35%) and Germany's $9.3 million in 18 days.
'Evolution' gains
"Evolution" brought in $4.7 million from 2,000 screens in preems in 16 markets and holdovers in 11 territories, led by Australia's dandy $1 million on 225, South Korea's fair $432,000 on 60, Brazil's so-so $304,000 on 157 and Argentina's soft $207,000 on 58. Cume is $18.5 million, highlighted by the U.K.'s $9.1 million and Spain's $2.6 million.
"Dr. Dolittle 2" overshadowed "Evolution" in Brazil, prescribing $675,000 on 182 -- Fox's eighth-highest bow there -- and fell only 12% in Oz, laffing up $3.3 million in 11 days. "The Mummy Returns" became the first blockbuster to cross $200 million this year, cuming $203.6 million.
