Disaster sells -- in almost every language.
Roland Emmerich's apocalyptic tentpole "2012" grossed a staggering $166.2 million from a whopping 14,508 runs in 66 territories in its opening at the international box office over the Nov. 13-15 sesh, well more than double its $65.2 million domestic debut.
"2012," which cost a hefty $200 million to produce, did especially well in Europe and Asia. France led with a whopping $18 million from 718 playdates, followed by Russia with $16 million at 840 and China with $12.2 million from 1,988.
Coming in virtually the same as China was Germany, where "2012" blew up the box office as Teutons turned out in droves for the end-of-the-world spectacle. Film grossed $12.4 million from 756.
Local critics are heaping praise on Roland Emmerich's technical finesse with little to say about the story, or lack thereof.
"Tears yes, but from laughter," wrote pubcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk's BR-online. "The film doesn't take itself seriously. The scenario is so unbelievable and the images so ludicrous that they generate laughter rather than shock. … If you're questioning the story, you're in the wrong film."
Emmerich scored his best Italian opening ever with "2012," which grossed a whopping $7.6 million off 532 screens, marking the country's third best bow of the year after 20th Century Fox's "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and Sony's own "Angels and Demons."
"2012" grossed $10.6 million from 878 in the U.K. Other hot spots included South Korea at $8.2 million from 801, and Mexico at $5 million from 780.
Robert Zemeckis' 3D holiday title "Disney's A Christmas Carol" came in No. 2 in its second frame, grossing $16.2 million from 3,339 playdates in 21 territories, a solid showing. Cume is $33 million. Despite a lackluster opening -- both internationally and domestically -- the film is showing signs of having legs.
International grosses for "Christmas Carol" are running 47% ahead of Zemeckis' worldwide hit "The Polar Express," which scored a foreign cume of $124 million.
Sony continued to score with "Michael Jackson's This Is It," which took No. 3 in its third frame overseas. Concert rehearsal film grossed $11.2 million for a boffo foreign cume of $155.2 million. Japan leads with $32.3 million. Europe also remains a hotbed for the title. Pic has cumed $13.5 million in France, and $12.7 million in Germany. Down under, "This Is It" has cumed $7.7 million in Australia.
Universal was all smiles over the foreign performance of Vince Vaughn laffer "Couples Retreat," which grossed $3.8 million from 1,400 playdates in 20 territories to place No. 5 for the frame, for a foreign total of $34.1 million in its sixth frame.
Heath Ledger's final film, Terry Gilliam's, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" came in No. 6, grossing $3.5 million in its fifth frame from 772 playdates in seven territories, led by a French bow of $2.2 million. Foreign cume is $19 million. Film opens in the U.S. over Christmas.
French pics "Le Concert" and "Le Petit Nicolas" came in at No. 8 and No. 9.
Ed Meza in Berlin and Nick Vivarelli in Rome contributed to this report.
Contact Pamela McClintock at
pamela.mcclintock@variety.com