International Details - Foreign Films are not Chicken

December 13, 2009

The top five films on the international scene were published on Wednesday and can be found here.

A number of international releases reached the top 30 this week, including Zweiohrkuken, a.k.a. The Chicken With Two Ears, from Germany, which placed sixth with $10.72 million on 839 screens in 3 markets. It made $9.39 million on 714 screens in its native market, which was easily enough for first place and more than twice what the original,Keinohrhasen, a.k.a., No Ear Hare, opened with in 2007. Keinohrhasen went on to earn $74 million worldwide, of which more than $60 million was earned in Germany. However, I don't think this film will have the same legs. That said, since it was written, directed, and stars Til Schweiger who was recently in Inglourious Basterds, it could earn see releases in more markets.

  • Planet 51 fell out of the top five but still added $8.25 million on 2,799 screens in 23 markets for a total $24.61 million after three weeks of release. The film opened in the U.K. but only managed fourth place with $2.47 million on 420 screens. Still, that's slightly better than it opened here in the States, given the relative size of the two markets. It was a little weaker in Germany, opening in sixth place with $647,000 on 318 screens. The film held on well in Spain, down just 31% to $2.99 million on 507 screens over the weekend and just shy of $8.00 million after two. It has likely already reached $10 million in that market, which is about as common as films reaching $100 million here.
  • Up returned to the top ten with $7.82 million on 2,153 screens in 23 markets for a total of $390.51 million internationally and $683.49 million worldwide. The film took top spot in Japan with $6.99 million on 663 screens, which is more than enough to assume the film will reach $400 million internationally and $700 million worldwide, which will make it only the third Pixar film to reach the former milestone and the second to reach the latter.
  • Old Dogs just missed the top 30 during its international debut last weekend, while this weekend it reached the top ten with $4.55 million on 1,119 screens in 6 markets for a total of $6.98 million. This includes a first place opening in Russia where it made $2.16 million on 330 screens, but it struggled in Spain, landing in sixth with just $1.37 million on 325 screens.
  • Ninja Assassin fell from sixth to tenth with $4.27 million on 1,127 screens in 16 markets for a total of $12.48 million. The film opened in Russia, but only managed ninth place with $653,000 on 333 screens. It was even worse in Italy, missing the top 10 with a mere $205,000 on 111 screens. On the other hand, it added $1.57 million on 310 screens in South Korea for a total of $6.39 million.
  • Cado Dalle Nubi fell to second place in Italy and eleventh internationally, but added $4.01 million on 430 screens over the weekend for a total of $10.60 million after two.
  • Paa opened in 12th place with $3.74 million on 623 screens, which compares well to the $4.3 million it cost to make.
  • Mulan remained strong in China and a few other markets, adding $3.64 million on 605 screens in 4 markets over the weekend for a total of $12.36 million after two.
  • Spanish Movie opened in Spain and earned first place in that market and 14th overall with $3.22 million on 388 screens.
  • Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs earned 15th place with $3.18 million on 1,374 screens in 16 markets for a total of $67.39 million internationally. The film did respectable business in Spain and placed fourth with $1.76 million on 488 screens, but that is a little weaker than its international average so far. That said, $100 million internationally is still possible, while $200 million worldwide is practically a lock.
  • Law Abiding Citizen added $2.71 million on 944 screens in 14 markets for a total of $18.72 million after a month of release. It has yet to find breakout success internationally compared to what it did domestically, but assuming it didn't cost too much to advertise, it is well on its way to profitability.
  • The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest earned $2.64 million on 422 screens in 3 markets over the weekend for a total of $10.53 million after two. I'm not sure if opening so soon after The Girl Who Played with Fire was a wise thing to do, while neither film seems to have a real shot at catching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
  • De Dana Dan fell only 43%, which is great for an Indian film, as it added $2.49 million on 1,023 screens in 16 markets to its total of $11.05 million after two weeks of release. This is enough to call it a solid hit for the market.
  • Saw VI returned to the chart in 19th place with $2.48 million on 759 screens in 14 markets over the weekend for a total of $31.17 million after more than a month of release. The film was aided by a fourth place, $1.73 million opening on 321 screens in Germany.
  • Couples Retreat popped back into the top 20 with $2.38 million on 862 screens in 33 markets for a total of $42.59 million.
  • Zombieland added $2.17 million on 632 screens in 26 markets for a total of $14.73 million. The film opened in sixth place in Australia with $783,000 on 153 screens, which is not bad given its screen count, but not as strong as it opened here.
  • Secret opened in second place in South Korea and 22nd place internationally with $2.10 million on 474 screens over the weekend for a total of $2.48 million.
  • Dorian Gray fell 10 spots to 23rd with $1.92 million on 245 screens in 3 markets for a total of $10.07 million internationally. It climbed a spot to third in Italy with $1.70 million on 238 screens over the weekend for a total of $4.72 million after two.
  • Komt Ren Vrouw Bij De Dokter earned $1.81 million on 132 screens in 2 markets over the weekend for a total of $5.07 million after two. In its native market, The Netherlands, it made $1.75 million on 125 screens, which was enough for first place over the weekend and $4.97 million after two.
  • Where the Wild Things Are reached the top 30 for the first time in its run, placing 25th with $1.66 million on 315 screens in 3 markets over the weekend for an early total of $2.73 million. This includes a third place, $1.43 million opening on 263 screens in Australia.
  • The Villain fell from 12th to 24th place internationally with $1.57 million on 396 screens over the weekend for a total of $4.79 million after two weeks in France and its two neighbors, Belgium and Switzerland.
  • The Road made its international debut in 27th place with $1.55 million on 207 screens in 2 markets. Of that, $1.50 million was earned on 201 screens in France, but that was only enough for seventh in the market.
  • A Serious Man made its first appearance on this list in 28th place with $1.53 million on 352 screens in 9 markets for a total of $4.34 million.
  • G-Force nearly fell out of the top 30, but it still added $1.40 million on 1,199 screens in 16 markets to its total of $164.18 million internationally and $283.60 million worldwide. Its run is not over just yet, and it is hard to imagine that it hasn't at least broken even by now.
  • Radio was the third Indian film to place in the top 30, but with an opening on just $1.34 million on 623 screens in 13 markets it was barely able to do that and it is going to have little hope of ever breaking even.

-

Filed under: International Box Office, Up, G-Force, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland, Where the Wild Things Are, Couples Retreat, Saw VI, Dorian Gray, Ninja Assassin, The Road, Planet 51, Old Dogs, A Serious Man