'Watchmen' tops at foreign box office

Comicbook pic takes in $27.5 million overseas

By DAVE MCNARY

"Watchmen" dominated the foreign box office with a respectable rather than blockbuster opening weekend of $27.5 million at 5,097 in 45 territories -- less than half the domestic launch.

Zach Snyder's adaptation of the offbeat graphic novel averaged a decent $5,395 per location and finished first in most most markets, where it faced challenges of offering a complex story line and untraditional approach to superheroes.

"Watchmen" scored its best perf in the UK with $4.6 million at 420, more than double the takes for the next two entries -- the ninth frame of "Slumdog Millionaire" and the second weekend of "Gran Torino," with both taking in $1.7 million. Foreign cume for "Slumdog" has gone past $100 million, led by $40 million in the U.K.

"Watchmen," handled by Paramount overseas, took in $2.5 million in France, followed by Russia and Australia with $2.3 million, Spain with $2 million, Germany with $1.9 million, Italy with $1.6 million and South Korea with $1.4 million.

"Gran Torino" topped "Watchmen" in France with a second frame of $4.8 million, off only 10%, and a $2.7 million launch in best opening for a Clint Eastwood pic in that market. "Torino," still early in its foreign run, totaled $12 million at 1,685 in 17 markets for an overseas cume of $33.4 million.

Fox's "Marley and Me" topped "Watchmen" in Germany, launching with $2.9 million, and opened in third in France with $2.4 million. "Marley" fetched $8.2 million at 1,700 in 27 markets for a foreign total of $33 million.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," handled by Warner Bros. offshore, continued showing decent foreign traction with $7.8 million at 4,500 in 61 markets to lift the international total to $189.2 million -- $63 million above its domestic cume.

Disney's "Bolt" grabbed $4.2 million at 2,960 in 27 territories to lift the foreign cume to $171.6 million and "Valkyrie" grossed $4 million at 2,800 in 44 markets to push its international total to $99 million for a worldwide total of $182 million. Sony's "Pink Panther 2" remained a modest performer overseas with $3.7 million at 2,490 in 61 markets for a $27.4 million foreign cume.

Universal's "Milk" grossed $2.2 million at 700 in 25 territories, led by a $1.4 million French launch, for a total of $13.7 million overseas.

Disney's "Jonas Brothers: the 3D concert Experience" opened impressively in Mexico with $497,000 at 66 3D venues and took in another $200,000 from other markets.