Japanese auds were transported to Middle-earth over the weekend as the "Lord of the Rings" finale opened majestically. "The Return of the King" rang up $14.7 million on 729 screens, including $3.7 million in sneaks, according to New Line's Sunday projections.
That elevates overseas cume to $617.7 million, while the worldwide total topped $972 million. Gross will reach $1 billion by the end of the month, according to Rolf Mittweg, New Line's prexy of worldwide distribution and marketing.
Pic's $5.6 million Saturday haul was 34% higher than the "Two Towers" preem in yen and 52% bigger in dollars, underlining how much the greenback has slumped in the past year.
"Towers" went on to amass $65 million in Japan. Based on the final seg's opening and helped by the favorable exchange rate, Mittweg is willing to predict, "It looks like we're on our way to our first $100 million grosser in Japan."
'Give' got plenty
Meanwhile, "Something's Gotta Give" wooed an estimated $16.1 million at the weekend, propelling cume to $38.6 million. Jack Nicholson/Diane Keaton starrer bowed at No. 1 in Germany, fetching roughly $3.7 million on 536 screens (89% ahead of "As Good as It Gets") and in Spain, scoring $1.8 million on 232 (54% up on that prior Nicholson pic).
Fueled by word of mouth in its soph sessions, romantic comedy courted $2.1 million in the U.K. (slipping by 4%), bringing market total to $5.6 million; it drew $1.6 million in Italy (zero drop) for $3.8 million to date.
"The Last Samurai" soared to $294.7 million on the back of a $12.2 million weekend. Tom Cruiser starrer minted $2 million in its 11th stanza in Japan, boosting territory's coffers to a staggering $111.5 million. Europe generated $8.1 million, pushing the region's bounty to $133.9 million.
Given the hobbits' invasion, "Love Actually" proved to be effective counterprogramming in Japan, picking up $1.6 million (dipping by 4%), advancing the nine-day cume to $5.7 million. Hugh Grant starrer ruled in Taiwan, its final major market, mustering $235,000 on 60, with sneaks, on par with "Bridget Jones's Diary."
'Cold' heats up
After solid runs in the U.K and Australia, "Cold Mountain" drummed up a fine $1.5 million in Italy, comparable to "Chicago," and a fair $240,000 in Brazil (better than helmer Anthony Minghella's "The English Patient").
"Cheaper by the Dozen" took pole position in the U.K., garnering an estimated $3.5 million on 366, including $1.2 million in previews, and in Brazil, rustling up $543,000 on 211.
"The Haunted Mansion" bowed brightly in Blighty, spooking up $3 million, level with the "Dr. Dolittle" and "Nutty Professor" sequels. Eddie Murphy starrer ruled again in its third outing in Mexico, pocketing $900,000 (abating by 30%), upping local cume to $5.7 million.
Spanish auds embraced "Lost in Translation," shelling out a bit more than $1 million at 152 situations. Farrelly brothers' fans in Australia gave "Stuck on You" a No. 1 debut, posting $1.3 million on 192, ahead of fellow frosh "Under the Tuscan Sun," which garnered a dandy $987,000 on 108.
"The Missing" went missing in Germany in its first offshore tryout after preeming at the Berlin fest, corralling $680,000 on 301.
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