M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” and superhero actioner “The Incredible Hulk” waged a close battle in their foreign debuts over the June 13-15 frame, with “Happening’s” 31.8 million from 5,693 playdates for 20th Century Fox edging “Hulk,” from Universal and Marvel Studios, which grossed $30.8 million from 3,419.

However close the race between the two, “Happening,” toplining Mark Wahlberg, exceeded expectations in its international debut, just as it did far better domestically ($30.5 million) than predicted. Shyamalan has a strong track record at the international B.O., with his film grossing more than $800 million.

“Hulk,” starring Edward Norton, won the June 13-15 frame domestically. Both “Happening” and “Hulk” did solid opening biz across the Euro box office, although the ongoing European soccer tournament is proving a distraction to male auds. Yet even summer tentpoles “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Sex and the City” are still reeling ’em in.

Coming in No. 3 for the weekend at the international box office, New Line and Warner Bros.’ “Sex and the City” grossed a nifty $22.9 million from 5,451 runs in its third week for a foreign cume of $135.6 million.

Par’s “Crystal Skull” placed came in fourth, grossing $21.9 million from 6,956 playdates for a boffo foreign cume of $359.4 million in its fourth week.

Jack Black toon “Kung Fu Panda,” from Par and DreamWorks Animation, placed fifth at $15.4 million from 1,633 runs for a cume of $42.6 million. Par is holding back many territories for now.

In the U.K., “Hulk” bit off a big piece of green as it stormed to the top of the charts with $6.3 million on 484 engagements. The superhero pic toplining Ed Norton also netted the best screen average of any pic in the top 10 — $13,019.

Once again displaying good legs, “Sex” dropped a respectable 42% in its third frame in the U.K. to claim third with $3.5 million at 470. The femme-skewed counterprogrammer has now banked $39.6 million in Blighty via Entertainment. Pic is proving popular with wives and girlfriends deprived of male company by the soccer tourney.

Also showing good traction is “Skull.” The Paramount release slid 34% in its fourth weekend to $3.4 million at 503 and a cume of $69.3 million.

Shyamalan’s fourth-place “Happening” shrugged off poor reviews to make a decent $3.2 million for Fox. Screen average of $8,151 proved a pleasant surprise for bizzers.

In Italy, eco-thriller “Happening” took the numero uno spot, followed by romantic comedy “Made of Honor” in a soft frame devitalized by soccer fever. Pic bowed at $1.7 million on 363, proving that Shyamalan’s Italo fan base remains loyal.

Sony’s “Made of Honor” pulled a decent $1.1 million on 293 on the strength of protag Patrick Dempsey’s “Grey’s Anatomy”-derived star power, which lured the soccer-averse segment of Italy’s female demographic.

Meanwhile, the latest “Indiana Jones” installment dropped 46% to $952,000 on 329 in its fourth frame, in third place with a $16.7 million cume via Universal.

“Sex,” in its third frame, slid 55% for $893,000 off 419 and a $9.2 million take to date via local distrib 01 Distribuzione.

Matteo Garrone’s naturalistic Neapolitan Mafia pic “Gomorrah,” winner of the Cannes Grand Prix, consolidated its boffo run with $665,000 off 281 for a $14 million five-week cume, marking a rare case of an Italo auteur playing the plex circuit.

The German box office grew by nearly 18% despite the soccer fever gripping the nation, due in part to cooler temperatures and rain throughout much of the country. “Sex” remained on top in its third session with $2.8 million on its way to a $17.9 million cume, followed by “Skull,” which continued to do well in its fourth lap, grossing $2.1 million toward a $24.7 million total.

Placing No. 3, Fox’s “Happening” was the best performing new entry, taking in $1.7 million from 550, well ahead of Shyamalan’s last pic, 2006’s “Lady in the Water,” which managed $452,817 on its opening weekend and went on to cume just over $1 million.

In France, “Happening” had a strong first five days, with many critics being far kinder than they were in the U.S. or U.K. Its Wednesday-to-Sunday run earned Fox $4.7 million.

“Skull” continued its solid Gallic run in its fourth frame. Down 39% on the week, its cume stands at $33.1 million. “Sex” slipped a better-than-expected 43% on the week for Metropolitan in its third frame. Cume now stands at $13.9 million.

In Spain, “Happening” comfortably landed the top spot with $3.4 million at 384 for Fox. Pic, which bested exhibs’ expectations, benefited from a warm reception from local crix. Copy average of $8,695 was also a weekend best.

UPI’s “Skull” is fading in Spain. The second-place pic drew a per-copy average of $1,702 in its fourth frame to edge its cume to $26.4 million.

Despite the Spanish market being relatively uncrowded (“Sex” and “Hulk” are yet to bow), specialty and homegrown fare wasn’t able to capitalize. Local pic “Pretextos” took just $101,015, and “An American Crime” collected only $73,972.

(Dave McNary in Los Angeles, Ed Meza in Germany, Emilio Mayorga in Spain, Nick Vivarelli in Italy and David Hayhurst in France contributed to this report.)