International Top Five - Madagascar Chases Down Top Spot
December 10, 2008
As expected, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa earned first place on the international chart.
However, its weekend haul of $50.99 million on 5,009 screens in 33 markets was better than expected, while its total of $126.43 million internationally is close to 40% of the original's final.
Its best market of the week was Germany where it pulled in $11.43 million on 841 screens, while it also performed amazingly in France ($9.54 million on 788 screens) and in the U.K. ($9.48 million on 520). Other first place debuts included Mexico ($4.53 million on 438 screens); Switzerland ($2.51 million on 152); Belgium ($1.69 million on 115); and Austria ($1.57 million on 101).
Twilight climbed into second place with $10.57 million on 2,012 screens in 18 markets for a total of $36.61 million.
Its biggest opening of the weekend came in Spain where it placed first with $4.06 million on 540 screens.
Meanwhile it also took top spot in Italy for the third weekend in a row with $1.50 million on 404 screens for a total of $12.31 million.
Quantum of Solace fell from first to third but still added $10.52 million on 5,806 screens in 57 markets for a total of $357.90 million internationally and $509.52 million worldwide.
It is only the 63rd film to reach the half-billion dollar mark worldwide, and the second Bond film in a row to do so.
The film had no major openings this week, nor does it have any next week.
In fact, it doesn't have another major opening till the end of January when it debuts in Japan.
In the meantime, it had million dollar performances in a trio of major markets: Australia ($1.64 million on 474 screens over the weekend for a total of $15.00 million after three); Spain ($1.42 million on 485 screens over the weekend for $10.30 million after three); and the U.K. with $1.08 million on 429 screens over the weekend and $73.15 million after six).
Bolt climbed into fourth place with $9.55 million on 1,779 screens in 11 markets for an early total of $19.95 million.
The film opened in a few smaller markets including Singapore with $587,000 on 51 screens over the weekend and $623,000 in total and Malaysia with $359,000 on 59 screens over the weekend and $589,000 in total.
However, the bulk of its weekend box office came from Russia where it was down just 26% to $3.22 million on 570 screens over the weekend and $8.81 million after two.
In the meantime, the film grew by more than a third in Poland to $1.26 million on 120 screens over the weekend for a total of $2.47 million.
Unfortunately, Poland disproportionally rewards animated films and it is hard to extrapolate the film's success here and use it to judge its potential in other markets.
Transporter 3 managed to hang onto a spot in the top five with $6.69 million on 1,554 screens in 7 markets, and now has $19.43 million after two weeks of release.
It benefited from an opening in the U.K. where it managed third place with $1.43 million on 322 screens.
However, it was down 54% in France to $2.15 million on 535 screens over the weekend and $7.33 million in total, while it was down 57% in Russia to $2.07 million on 561 screens over the weekend for a total of $8.05 million in that market.
Filed under: International Box Office, Twilight, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Quantum of Solace, Bolt, Transporter 3