Sydney, Australia (Top40 Charts) - "Pearl Harbor's" record-busting premiere in China helped propel the foreign total for the WWII epic past $200 million last weekend, while "Planet of the Apes," "Jurassic Park III" and "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" saw strapping, but not dazzling, debuts in other territories.
Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor" captured $2.4 million in three days in China, beating "Titanic's" $1.4 million record bow (although "Pearl" played on 227 screens vs. 177 for "Titanic"). The sympathetic portrayal of the Chinese villagers who came to the aid of the Yanks evidently struck a chord with locals who, coincidentally, have been flocking to another war saga, "Enemy at the Gates," which has earned a tidy $2.1 million to date.
Disney's blockbuster collared $341,000 in India, in local currency the market's fifth-biggest bow. It garnered $267,000 in Hungary, for the local industry's second best entry.
All told, the Ben Affleck/Kate Beckinsale starrer hauled in $6.6 million last weekend. The international total topped $205 million, so the picture's poised to overtake the year's highest earner, "The Mummy Returns," which is winding down with $213.9 million. The top markets for "Pearl" are Japan's $36.5 million (where it edged up by 3% in its fifth weekend as the Obon vacation started) and Germany's $26.3 million.
Fox's "Apes" remake swung into Australia with $2.1 million, including sneaks, for the distributor's third-highest debut. It had similarly muscular openings in New Zealand ($358,000), Singapore ($524,000), Malaysia ($300,000) and Norway ($298,000).
Tim Burton's sci-fier retained pole position despite heavy falls in its sophomore sessions in Mexico (earning $6.8 million to date, dropping 46%), Brazil ($3.2 million, down 39%), Argentina ($2.4 million, off 52%) and Colombia ($911,000). In all, "Apes" chewed on $11.6 million in 24 territories, taking its foreign total to $45.8 million. That included Japan's handy $17.8 million through its third lap, slipping just 16%.
The latest "Jurassic Park" romp racked up $16.7 million from 22 markets. The foreign total hit $98 million, and the picture's set to rank as the 12th title to cross $100 million overseas this year. ("Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" just passed that milestone, peaking at $101 million, with Japan and Italy ahead).
The flying dinos landed in France with a sturdy but not stellar $3.3 million, but were more potent in Hong Kong ($1.3 million), Belgium ($817,000, the second best bow this year) and Denmark ($304,000).
"Jurassic Park III" has devoured a tasty $14.8 million in nine days in Japan (abating by 13%), second to local cartoon "Spirited Away," which spiked up by 6% in its fourth weekend with $8.2 million, elevating the total to a socko $78.1 million.
The dino pic tumbled by 50% in Germany, amassing $10.6 million in 11 days, dented by rookie "Dr. Dolittle 2," which fetched a decent $2 million. The Eddie Murphy starrer reigned in Spain, bringing in a fair $863,000 as its foreign totalreached $39.3 million.
Steven Spielberg's "A.I." conjured up an estimated $1.3 million in South Korea (news - web sites) nationally, just behind the third turn of local pic "Weird Girl." The sci-fi fantasy picked up $1.5 million in Mexico (trailing "Apes") and ascended to $65.2 million in its seventh outing in Japan.
"Cats & Dogs" held sway in the U.K. after a WB record opening week, easing by a trifling 11% to feast on $15 million in 10 days. "Rush Hour 2" was parked at No. 2 in Blighty, making a juicy $12.3 million in the same frame.
In its first offshore tryouts, "The Score" was overpowered by the competition in Germany, taking roughly $655,000, but resonated more effectively in France, scoring an estimated $370,000 in Paris and suburbs, behind the dinos.
