Fabs and fab-nots
Such are the vagaries of the foreign markets. As expected, the response thus far to the Brit drama has been strongest on home turf.
For models of consistency, look no further than this trio:
"Mrs. Doubtfire," whose international cume raced to $ 180.6 million after 18 weeks of release overseas, including some late momentum from Japan, where Chris Columbus' comedy has bagged $ 4.76 million in 12 days at 69 theaters.
"Schindler's List," which climbed to $ 143 million foreign through April 21 and is certain to pass $ 150 million by today.
"Philadelphia," which earned $ 5.52 million in the April 16-17 weekend on 1, 464 prints, elevating the total to $ 75 million. After bowing on 79 screens in Japan Friday, the Tom Hanks starrer will easily top $ 80 million by the end of April.
Here's another idiosyncrasy. Kevin Reynolds' adventure "Rapa Nui" cruised through its third weekend on 140 screens in Italy, with a cume of $ 3.1 million. Down Under, new distrib Hayden Films gave the film a big push and got good figures in Sydney and Brisbane but slim pickings in Melbourne.
After Easter vacation, the Aussie top 20 B.O. receipts slid by 31% to $ 4.8 million. In its third lap Simon Wincer's "Lightning Jack" lost 17 screens and dipped by 44%, totaling $ 3.57 million.
You can't lose it
Polygram Film Intl. is heartened by "Backbeat's" positive reviews and word of mouthin Gernamy and Sweden (Stockholm was OK, the rest of the country poor) and hopes the pic will build. Through its second weekend of on 200 screens in the U.K., the falloff was a reasonable 29%.
"The Good Son," a spotty performer, checked into Japan with a moderate $ 812, 000 on 46 screens and in Taiwan with $ 158,200 on six, both in five days. Doing OK in its second lap in Hong Kong and Greece, Joseph Ruben's pic has taken a paltry $ 10 million overseas.
Warner Bros. is treading carefully with "Fearless," which had decent starts in limited release in the U.K., Italy, Scandinavia and South Africa.
Distrib's "The Pelican Brief" rose to $ 63.6 million overseas, helped by solid preems in Holland and Indonesia.
"On Deadly Ground" is below par for a Steven Seagal vehicle, mustering a mere $ 18.5 million abroad. Actioner took a robust $ 320,300 in six days on 61 prints in macho South Africa but was shaky in Belgium and Finland.
In the U.K., "Striking Distance" drew a fair number of Bruce Willis fans but exhibs doubt it will have legs: Its foreign cume from firstruns is $ 37.7 million.
British entries "Tom and Viv" and "Widow's Peak" were listless.
Italo takings during the April 15-17 weekend held steady, helped by a return to wintry weather. "The Getaway" didn't open as lustily as some tradesters expected, given Kim Basinger's popularity, while "Striking Distance" (imaginatively retitled "Imminent Impact") did fine on just nine screens.
"Ladybird, Ladybird" is shaping as another arthouse click for Ken Loach, but Pupi Avanti's thriller "The Childhood" (L'Amico d'Infanzia) wasn't thrilling.
Non to 'Intersection'
French critics roasted Mark Rydell's "Intersection" as a vastly inferior remake of a treasured Gallic film, and after a respectable opening it went into a rapid descent. Exhibs were pleased with the debut of "Cool Runnings" and not surprised by "The Getaway's" 44% second week plunge.
"Intersection" had a warmer welcome in Spain, grossing $ 775,000 in five days on 88 prints, but is heading for the wrecker's yard in Sweden.
In Germany "Intersection" (given a sexier local title, "Encounters") started slightly stronger on screen averages than "The Getaway," although both trailed the remarkable "Schindler's List" in its seventh lap.
"Runnings" powered along to $ 60 million, although it suffered a rare lapse in Holland, taking only $ 70,000 in the first weekend at 18 theaters.
"The Piano" has tinkled up $ 75.7 million offshore, "Free Willy" has $ 65 million, "Beethoven's 2nd"$ 49 million, "In the Name of the Father"$ 33 million, "Remains of the Day"$ 28.7 million, and "Little Buddha"$ 26.3 million.
Oh, and "Jurassic Park" looks like it will crack $ 540 million, buoyed by boffo bows in India and Pakistan.
