'Aliens' lands big foreign box office

International audiences look for 'Monsters'

By DAVE MCNARY

"Monsters vs. Aliens" scared up the top weekend slot at a resurgent international box office with $34.2 million at 6,991 playdates in 43 markets with 3D locations proving particularly popular.

With spring vacations in full swing, domestic leader "Fast and Furious" opened impressively and came close to matching "Monsters" overseas with $30.1 million at 3,158 in 32 markets -- a stellar $9,527 average.

"Monster vs. Aliens," with launches in most major markets, took in its top numbers in the U.K. with $6.5 million, including $2.5 million in previews. Mexico grossed with $3.2 million, followed by Australia and Spain with $2.9 million each, Italy with $2.6 million, France with $2.1 million and Germany with $1.5 million.

Paramount noted that 3D locations averaged 2.5 times better than 2D sites, such as $17,000 each for the 179 3D screens in the U.K. compared with $7,000 for the 464 2D sites. Par also pointed to "Monsters" overcoming high temps in Europe to outperform openings by Disney's "Bolt," which has cumed $179 million overseas.

With vacations continuing this week and the usual appetite for family fare, "Monsters" should be able to attract similarly solid numbers through the Easter frame. The toon has hit $47.7 million outside the United States.

"Fast and Furious" turned in No. 1 launches in most markets, led by Germany with $6.5 million and 40% market share, followed by Mexico with $4 million, Spain with $3.6 million, Brazil with $2.1 million and Thailand with $1.2 million and a 65% share. "Fast" expands to 19 more markets next weekend including France, Russia and the U.K.

The three previous "Fast and Furious" pics have been decent performers outside the United States with around $270 million combined.

Nicolas Cage's "Knowing" turned in the top figure among the rest with $8.6 million at 2,325 in 15 markets, led by a $2.86 million launch in France. "Knowing" has cumed $24 million overseas early in its foreign run.

Fox's "Marley and Me" continued to fetch respectable foreign coin with $6.7 million at 3,000, including a

$2.26 million Italian opening. "Marley" has cumed $83.2 million outside the United States -- $60 million short of the domestic cume.

Warner's "Gran Torino" picked up $5.5 million at 2,500 in 46 territories. The Clint Eastwood vehicle's performed along the same lines as "Marley" with a foreign cume of $81.5 million, about $64 million short of the U.S. total.

Sony's "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," still early in its foreign run, collected $4.2 million at 1,411 in 14 holdover markets for a $20.2 million international cume. Disney's "Confessions of a Shopaholic" took in $2.5 million at 1,122 in 32 markets for a $48.9 million foreign total -- $5 million ahead of the disappointing domestic cume.

"Watchmen" has nearly disappeared with $1.8 million at 2,112 in 50 territories. The superhero pic, handled overseas by Par, has cumed $71.7 million after a month.

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