'Arthur' legendary in Germany and Spain
'King' proves vigilance overseas
The knights' tale commanded the top spot in Germany, although coming in below the bow of Bruckheimer's "Con Air," and retained the crown in its soph session in Spain last week. In Austria, it was beaten by, of all things, fellow rookie "Garfield: The Movie."
"It's a good, historical action film that may have gotten lost in the U.S. but may draw more interest here," said one German booker. In Spain, one exhib noted, "It's had a good marketing campaign, and it makes sense that it should attract more audiences in Europe than in the U.S."
Apart from the theme and Euro cast headed by Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Til Schweiger and Stellan Skarsgard, in its offshore travels the Antoine Fuqua-helmed saga hasn't had to confront "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," which humbled it when they went toe-to-toe in the U.S. (although the international prospects of "Anchorman" are debatable).
"King Arthur" has minted $95 million in 32 territories through Aug. 24 and over the weekend will rank as the 16th title to surpass $100 million abroad this year.
With Greece, Brazil, Italy and China ahead, the adventure has a shot at reaching $150 million. Biz meandered in most major markets as U.K. receipts fell by 7%, Germany was up 8% and Spain gained 9%. But France improved by 20%, helped by cinema-friendly storms, and after its summer slumbers, the Italian B.O. shot up by 182% from a pitifully low base, thanks to an infusion of new product.
After sterling runs in Southeast Asia, "The Village" top-scored in France, almost 40% bigger than the unremarkable opening of director M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs," and in the U.K., albeit below "Signs." However one Blighty booker feared a steep second-weekend drop as the suspenser is generating indifferent buzz, and said he'd be happy with anything less than 45%.
"The Bourne Supremacy" opened strongly in South Korea and Taiwan but was mediocre in Hong Kong, where it was well beaten by "Garfield." One U.K. programmer was disappointed by the thriller's 35% decline, considering it garnered among the best reviews this summer.
"Garfield" bounded along to $52.9 million in 37 markets, spurred by decent entries in Germany and South Korea, No. 1 bows in Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Holland, and a spry second turn in France.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" advanced to $56 million, driven by an impressive debut in Japan (where it was No. 1 in the key cities and second nationwide behind local pic "Naruto") and its fourth frame in Germany. One Teutonic exhib predicts the Bush-bashing docu will have "a long life; its subject is as current as can be." Michael Moore's polemic has resonated most strongly in France, where anti-Bush sentiment is virulent and auds relish political pics.
"Spy Kids 3D: Game Over" wound its tour with a nifty preem in Spain as the 3-D gimmick attracted far more kids than did the first or second edition. Miramax pic's cume topped $81 million, below domestic's $111.8 million, hindered by meager contributions from France and Germany, where the franchise never caught on. In its first major market tryout in Spain, the Robert Redford starrer "The Clearing" didn't match the modest expectations of some exhibs, who were surprised it went out on a fairly wide 215 screens.
After a top-ranked debut in Singapore, "Collateral" took the honors in Mexico, but in Argentina the Tom Cruise starrer couldn't catch "King Arthur" in its second stanza.
"I, Robot" marched to $131.6 million in 36 markets, boosted by its preem in Denmark (where it outgunned that of "Minority Report") and holdovers in the U.K., Germany, Spain and France.
"Alien vs. Predator" continued its pattern of No. 1 openings in Asia in Singapore, repping Fox's seventh highest, and the Philippines.
"Hellboy" was the victor in a soft frame in Australia but a distant No. 5 in South Korea. Comicbook-inspired caper usually opens passably then collapses, as happened last week in France; it's earned a ho-hum $16.7 million in 22 territories.
After forgettable runs in Asia and Latin America, "The Chronicles of Riddick" showed more heft as it launched in France and Italy. The Vin Diesel starrer was only fair in Belgium and Holland and blah in Sweden and Switzerland; its cume is $23 million in 35 markets.
"We have just come out of an extremely black period when we touched the bottom," said one Naples exec, who opined that biz in Italy suffered greatly from the absence of the "Shrek" and "Spider-Man" sequels.
"Shrek 2" surged to $404 million, powered chiefly by its smash $2 million preem in Russia and its fifth in Japan, heading for around $450 million.
Liza Klaussmann in Paris, Sheri Jennings in Rome, Ed Meza in Berlin, Archie Thomas in London and John Hopewell in Madrid contributed to this report.
