Posted: Fri., Oct. 30, 2009, 5:44pm PT

'Imaginarium' magic at overseas B.O.

Terry Gilliam pic grosses $2.7 million in 227 locations

By Pamela McClintock

For the second time in just a few weeks, an indie film that has labored to find a U.S. distributor is making a splash in certain foreign territories.

This time, it's Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," the fantasy pic featuring Heath Ledger's final screen performance, also starring Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell.

"Parnassus" scored the third highest per-screen average of the year in Italy as it opened over the Oct. 23-25 weekend to $2.7 million from 227 locations for local distrib Moviemax. The weekend before, "Parnassus" enjoyed a solid launch in the U.K., grossing $1.5 million from 265 to land at No. 3 for the weekend.

Pic's cume in the U.K., where it's being distribbed by Lionsgate, is $3.4 million. "Parnassus" made less of a splash in Spain, opening at $336,414 from 71 locations over the frame. Overall, film grossed $6.4 million at the foreign box office in its first 10 days of play.

Sony Pictures Classics acquired U.S. rights to the pic several months after it played in Cannes, and will open it on Dec. 25.

All eyes in Spain were trained on Alejandro Amenabar's period epic "Agora," where it conquered the box office for the third weekend in a row. "Agora," toplining Rachel Weisz, slid only 32% to $3.4 million for a cume of $21.7 million after 17 days.

Exhibs agree "Agora" will cume $31 million or above, surpassing "The Sea Inside," Amenabar's biggest hit in Spain so far at $30 million for Fox Intl.

"Agora" doesn't yet have a U.S. distributor.

In Germany, it was local production "Pope Joan," from director Soenke Wortman that dominated the box office, opening to a heavenly $4.4 million from 465. The Constantin pic is an adaptation of Donna Woolfolk Cross' bestselling novel about a 9th-century woman who disguises herself as a man in the name of education and ultimately ascends the papal throne.

While the pic benefited from the book's popularity, critics have been less than thrilled with the historical drama, which stars Johanna Wokalek ("The Baader Meinhof Complex"), David Wenham ("Public Enemies") and John Goodman.

Fall is historically a quiet time for Hollywood fare at the foreign B.O., giving local titles and smaller movies a chance to flower. But Disney usually waits until autumn or the holiday season to roll out summer toons, when they have the aud's full attention.

Continuing to place No. 1 at the international B.O. was Disney/Pixar's 3D pic "Up," which grossed $27.9 million from 4,500 screens in 24 territories for a foreign cume of $295.8 million. Film's worldwide haul is $588 million.

"Up" will have no trouble surpassing the $309 million earned at the foreign B.O. by its own "Wall-E." "Up" ranked No. 1 in 10 markets, including the U.K., where its cume is $22.9 million.

Disney also took the No. 2 spot internationally with "G-Force," which grossed $12.5 million from 3,255 screens in 44 markets for a foreign cume of $127.9 million. Pic has yet to open in China, South Korea and Japan.

"G-Force" launched at No. 2 in Germany, where it grossed $4.2 million from 521 locations.

Imagi Entertainment's "Astro Boy" grossed $7.4 million from 1,960 screens in six markets, including China, where it soared to the top spot with a boffo $5.9 million from 1,100 screens. International cume is $9.6 million.

Horror entry "Saw VI" saw diminished returns overseas, opening to $4.6 million from 3,823 locations in seven territories. That's a lower haul than previous installments enjoyed. Film placed No. 9 for the frame overall at the foreign B.O.

In Spain, distrib BVI watched on as "Saw VI's" opening was cancelled due to an "X" certificate rating. The distrib has appealed the decision.

Fox's toon "Fantastic Mr. Fox" debuted in the U.K. to $2.5 million from 483.

Two new pics distributed by Toho topped the Japanese B.O. for the weekend; "I Give My First Love to You" and "The Unbroken."

A weeper about first love and a high schooler with a weak heart, "First Love" grossed $3 million on 219,779 admissions, raising hopes for a $20 million plus total.

"Unbroken," based on the 1985 crash of a Japan Airlines flight that claimed 520 lives, grossed $2.7 million on 209,642 admissions. Film, starring Ken Watanabe as a dedicated company employee who helps root out corruption in the top executive ranks, also hopes to reach $20 million. Pic runs 200 minutes.

Emilio Mayorga in Barcelona, Ed Meza in Berlin, Mark Schilling in Tokyo and Nick Vivarelli in Rome contributed to this report.