In a frenetic start to the B.O. year, the hobbits and Hogwarts minted a combined $70 million overseas last weekend, flanked by a slew of other crowd-pullers including "Ocean's Eleven," "Monsters, Inc." and "Vanilla Sky."
Rather than treading on each other's toes, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and the "Harry Potter" phenom are proving to be a formidable double act, commanding the top two spots at the weekend in the U.K., Germany, France, Spain and South Korea.
New Line's blockbuster raced to $236 million, buoyed by a $40 million frame on 6,000 screens in 34 territories. The only major market opening was Korea, which generated a smash $4.9 million in six days on 200 prints.
In its third lap, "Rings" flew to $51 million in Blighty, $47.6 million in Germany, $30 million in France and $18 million in Spain.
'Rings' on fire
Coming off a record-busting preem in Oz, Peter Jackson's epic mustered $3 million on 407, falling by 40%, propelling the territory total to $12.5 million. Its soph session ranks as the second biggest ever, behind that of "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace." With Italy and Japan ahead, pic looks capable of heading north of $400 million.
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (as it's known in most markets outside Asia) vaulted to an estimated $511.2 million after banking $30.1 million from 7,800 engagements in 50 countries. That means 5.6 million people flocked to the pic last weekend alone.
Having overtaken "Phantom Menace" and "Independence Day," the little sorcerer now has "Jurassic Park" (which made $563 million) in its sights.
The wiz already is the second-highest earner ever in the U.K., amassing $83.6 million, and in Germany, notching $60.9 million. Japan's $114.7 million stamps it as the No. 4 title of all time there. With $18 million in the till, it's the industry's fifth biggest title in Australia, where exhibs hailed the vacation period starting Dec. 26 as an all-time B.O. record.
'Ocean's' rises
Released thus far in just seven markets, "Ocean's Eleven" is on a winning streak. The ensemble comedy nabbed $318,000 on 71 in Thailand (unseating "Rings" in its soph session), beating "Erin Brockovich's" bow by 75%. It scored $273,000 on 30 in Israel, WB's second-best debut ever there behind "Harry Potter."
In its third outing in Italy, "Ocean's" seized pole position from local laffer "Merry Christmas," drumming up $2.5 million on 469, spurring the total to a strapping $11.7 million.
"Monsters, Inc." devoured $5.2 million in 19 markets, hoisting cume to $38.5 million, with all of Europe plus Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong ahead. The Disney/Pixar toon has whistled up $14.5 million in four weeks in Mexico (poised to overtake "Potter's" $15.4 million), $6.3 million through its third lap in Oz (slipping just 13%) and $3.3 million in the same frame in Korea (abating by 14%).
Japan sweet on 'Vanilla'
The Tom Cruise headliner "Vanilla Sky" has racked up an impressive $15 million in 16 days in Japan, improving by 13% last weekend, and a handy $3 million in 17 days in South Korea. But it's demonstrating wobbly legs elsewhere, typified by the 48% plunge in its third lap in Oz, where it has pocketed a so-so $3.2 million. Also worrying are its soph-session declines in Mexico (off 44%, making $2.8 million to date), Taiwan (down 62%; $968,000) and Hong Kong (sliding 51%; $732,000).
In its first major market tryout Down Under, the Farrelly brothers' laffer "Shallow Hal" fetched a beefy $1.1 million on 176, bringing its tally to $1.7 million since its New Year's Day debut.
Considering its modest domestic results, Fox has parlayed "From Hell" to a rousing $4.9 million after its third frame in Italy, its first Euro engagement, expanding from 164 to 192 prints. The pic preemed at the Venice fest and the distrib sold it as a stylish "Jack the Ripper."
Beginning its offshore campaign, Fox's actioner "Behind Enemy Lines" seized a fair $1.3 million on 319 in the U.K. and a uniformly solid $411,000 on 82 in Taiwan, $355,000 on 32 in Hong Kong and $200,000 on 40 in Belgium.
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