LONDON — In the absence of any day-and-date juggernauts, the European box office is goosed by expansions, including the swoop of “The Dark Knight” into Germany.

Teuton bizzers are expecting one of the year’s biggest openings — a minimum $10 million but likely to be well north of that — from “Knight,” which has already proved a boffo success in other key Euro markets.

“Initially we were skeptical,” one booker said. “Comic book films don’t usually do well here. ‘Batman Begins,’ ‘Iron Man,’ ‘The Incredible Hulk,’ none of them did exceptional business. But we have altered our forecast in recent weeks and are now expecting a blockbuster performance.

“There is something very different about this film and it’s not just its success in the U.S. It’s a super-hero film like no other. People are curious about Heath Ledger’s performance. A lot of exhibitors here are calling it the best film of the year.”

Berlin daily tabloid BZ called the film a “milestone,” describing Christian Bale’s performance as “a class act,” and adding that Ledger’s Oscar was guaranteed. “As the Joker, he burns like a stick of dynamite, but from both ends.”

Rival distribs are counter programming with a slew of alternative genres.

Movienet releases Marcus H. Rosenmueller’s period actioner “Raeuber Kneissl,” a real-life historical account of Bavarian bandit Mathias Kneissl that pays homage to George Roy Hill’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Christophe Honore’s musical-drama “Les Chansons d'amour” (Love Songs) goes out via Pro-Fun, Senator releases Garth Jennings’ U.K. comedy “Son of Rambow” and Jiri Menzel’s Berlinale screener “I Served the King of England” hits theaters by way of Farbfilm/Barnsteiner.

In the U.K., significant openers “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army” and “Get Smart” enter an upbeat market where “The Dark Knight” and “Mamma Mia!” are still going strong.

Both comicbook pic sequel “Hellboy 2” (Universal) and spy spoofer “Get Smart” (Warner Bros.) have previewed well this week and bookers are upbeat about commercial prospects for both.

“Hellboy 2” is expected to add roughly $3.3 million to its $2 million in previews, making it the top performer of the weekend. Pic is boosted by some warm reviews: “Hellboy is the hottest, strangest and most fun comic book hero around,” praised the Sun tabloid.

Exhibs are looking for “Get Smart” to add about $2.4 million to the $1 million already banked in previews. Reviewers have not been kind: “The film is about as funny as a 3 a.m. cold call,” said the Financial Times. “(Steve) Carell has the vocal charm of a broken record,” sniped the Times.

Celebrated English auteur Shane Meadows’ “Somers Town” should go well at arthouse sites. Pic, which Optimum Releasing sends out on 62, has generated lots of pre-release hype in the broadsheets, chiefly due to its unusual funding model — it was fully funded by train service Eurostar. Reviews have been mostly mixed: “The feature felt maddeningly undeveloped and unfinished — maddening, because there’s so much in it that is good,” said the Guardian.

In Spain, nine releases flood theaters, and five of them on mid-range copy spreads. "I wonder if there are enough audiences and theaters for so many films," questioned a booker. "There are several holdovers playing well — 'Dark Knight,' 'Mamma Mia!,' 'Wall-E' and 'Mummy'," added another booker.

DeAplaneta bows Pang Bros.' "Bangkok Dangerous" on 314. "Another Asiatic Hollywood-ish thriller," said unenthusiastic El Periodico. Pic is "too predictable and redundant, as most of Pang's filmography," said El Pais. "Bangkok" is however the favorite to place first among openers, said bookers.

Crix were more enthusiastic about Adam Sandler vehicle "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," which is released by Sony on 323. "If not irreproachable, 'Zohan' is funny and effective," said El Pais.

Aurum opens Kirk de Micco's "Space Chimps" on a similar copy spread — 311. "An excellent option for family auds," said an exhibber.

Two local and very different pics also bow this weekend: Angeles Gonzalez Sinde's "Una palabra tuya," an intimate drama chronicling the life of two female road sweepers; and Jesus del Cerro's "Carlitos y el campo de los suenos," a family film about a young soccer hopeful. "Palabra" bows on 100 via Alta and "Carlitos" goes on a bold 250 via Fox.

In France, “Dark Knight” scored a smashing first week, cuming $7.6 million on 820. Reaching 1.3 million tickets sold, it has already nearly matched the 1.5 million mark notched by “Batman Begins” in its entire run. Noting that the Batman franchise is generally not strong in France, Warner Bros. is well pleased. They predict steady results as auds return from sunning in the south.

Of the Gallic newbies, sci-fi pic "Babylon A.D." attracted auspicious auds on its first day, taking $484,109 at 530 for StudioCanal. Director Mathieu Kassovitz, well-loved on home turf for his thesping in "La Haine" and "Amelie," has been praised by local crix. Touted by zoom-Cinema for his filmic reflections on cloning and religion, he refreshingly did not "sacrifice his script on the altar of special effects."

Action star Vin Diesel, who plays the hero, doesn't hurt the film's prospects at multiplexes.

Set in the Mediterranean's sparkling playground, dramatic comedy "La Fille de Monaco" launched on 321, taking in $297,886 for Warner Bros — a very strong opening for a French film of this genre. Crix praised director Anne Fontaine for her writing chops in the clever screenplay.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong import "Shaolin Basket" (Kung Foo Dunk) raked in a modest $48,814.

In Italy, Eddie Murphy sci-fi laffer “Meet Dave” goes out on a substantial 315 screens with a clear field, given that the second-biggest opener is teen-targeted “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” out at just 100 locations.

That said, Italo exhib expectations for Fox’s “Dave” are modest with reviews mostly dismissive, mirroring Stateside crix, though website mymovies.it gave “Dave” a rave, stating that “laughs are guaranteed.”

Universal’s “Sarah Marshall,” should get some play in the Italo niche trenches, with weekly L’Espresso calling it an “anti-romantic comedy par-excellence.” Still, the country’s general deep summer slumber mode has not helped amplify the media visibility of this latest title from the Judd Apatow stable.

Irish helmer Paddy Breathneck’s horror pic “Shrooms” is bowing in Italy on 95 via Mediafilm via Moviemax with decent prospects to scare up some biz.

The Italo arthouse arena sees Sundance scarer “Teeth,” by Yank helmer Mitchell Lichtenstein, going out on some 30 screens via Mediafilm, boosted by positive press.

Additional reporting by Ed Meza (Germany), Nick Vivarelli (Italy), Emilio Mayorga (Spain) and Lauren Seligman (France).