Charlie Appeals to the Sweet-tooth in its International Debut

July 24, 2005

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory opened in three French speaking markets over the weekend and while it didn't finish first, it still had a great start. In France the film earned $3,741,793 in 670 theaters for the best per theater average in the top ten. The result was similar in Belgium ($250,000) and Switzerland ($190,000), giving the film $4.2 million for the weekend.

Here's a round-up of box office news for movies appearing around the world:

  • If there was one non-English speaking market that I thought The Wedding Crashers would be a big hit, that market would be Germany. But that was not the case as the film crashed with just $650,000 on 365 screens for a distant fourth place finish. In Austria and Switzerland the film performed better with $170,000 on 52 and $90,000 on 45 screens respectively. Meanwhile, the film was a hit in the U.K. with $3.22 million on 409 screens, but due to a crowded market the film couldn't finish better than third place.
  • Local film, Heaven's Soldiers, opened in third place in South Korea during a crowded weekend at the top. Its $2,745,774 over the weekend and $3,115,296 since Thursday put it just behind the opening of Madagascar and War of the Worlds's sophomore stint.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Smith saw its weekend haul in China slashed in half to $1.1 million. On the plus side, that was still strong enough for first place and gave the film a $4.6 million running tally. The film also opened in first place in Hungary with $225,000 over the weekend and nearly $300,000 since its midweek debut. It is also in the top ten in its two biggest markets, the U.K. ($380,000 this weekend for a $23.3 million total) and South Korea ($857,000 for a $20.3 million total). Overall the film has made $125.4 million in markets where Fox is handling the distribution and another $19 million in other markets.
  • Sin City added $2.1 million to its international running tally of $40.2 million. Most of this week's revenue came from Australia where the film opened with $1.45 million, but the film also did well in Norway slipping by just 17% to $144,000 for a $525,000, two-week total. Things weren't as rosy in Sweden with a 48% drop-off to $195,000 for the weekend and $580,000 total.
  • Herbie: Fully Loaded opened in Brazil with $465,000, but it was Australia where the film earned the bulk of its $1.9 million this weekend. In the latter market the film managed $605,000 on 275 screens for a $6.6 million, four-week total, which is more than two-thirds of the film's $9.7 million international total.
  • Bewitched lost 47% of its opening weekend box office during its sophomore stint, leaving it with $1.42 million for the weekend and $5.68 two week total in the market.
  • House of Wax opened in Australia and New Zealand over the weekend earning $580,000 and $106,000 respectively. But the film's best market this weekend was Spain, thanks to a better than expected sophomore stint; the film fell just 47% to $620,000 lifting its total in the market to $2.275 million and $30.8 million internationally.
  • The fourth film in the Whispering Corridor series, Voice, opened in its native South Korea earning a fourth place finish with $1,265,637 over the weekend and $1,432,904 since its midweek opening.
  • Les Poupees Russes, a.k.a., The Russian Dolls, opened in Russia over the weekend but could do no better than $50,000 over the weekend. On the other hand, it added $828,199 on 601 screens in France to its 5-week total of $15,559,825 in its home market.
  • Fly, Daddy, Fly grew by 30% during its second weekend in Japan earning $801,306 on 211 screens for a $2,339,006 total.
  • The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl opened in Mexico with $740,000 on 340 screens, which is a middling start in such a family friendly market.
  • The Descent had the best week-to-week drop-off in the top ten in the U.K. slipping by just 28% to $720,000 for the weekend and $2.5 million during its run.
  • In Spain, local comedy Semen, una historia de amor snagged fifth place with $580,000 on 224 screens. As for the name, I don't know what it means, nor am I going to even guess.
  • Monster-In-Law made its debut in Russia with $510,000 over the weekend and $640,000 overall.
  • The Hong King film, New Police Story opened in France with a fifth place, $462,017 opening on 179 screens.
  • Valiant saw its wings clipped in Spain falling to $460,000 for the weekend and $1.8 million during its run. So far the film has earned $24.6 million internationally, mostly from the U.K. where it has earned just shy of $15 million.
  • George A. Romero's Land of the Dead made its international debut in two markets, Italy and Mexico. In the former market it earned a second place finish with $364,887 on 163 screens for the best per screen average in the market. In the latter market the film was no so fortunate as it grabbed just $148,000 on 75 screens.
  • The Longest Yard opened in Thailand and Jordan over the weekend bringing in $110,000 and $30,000 respectively. In New Zealand the film held up poorly compared with the rest of the top ten dropping 7% to $250,000 compared with a 30% increase by the rest of the films. So far the The Longest Yard has earned just $11.6 million internationally, the vast majority from its $8.1 million in Australia.
  • Boogeyman couldn't maintain what little momentum it had, free-falling by 66% during its second weekend in Italy landing at $269,167 for the weekend and $1,678,548 during its run.
  • A Lot Like Love dropped by 53% during its second weekend in Spain to $250,000, which is about average for the market. On the other hand, it plummet by 81% in Germany to $72,000 and 80% in the U.K. to $42,500.
  • Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's debut in Bulgaria was a bit of a shock as the Sci-Fi comedy snagged top spot with $26,000. On the other hand, a busy weekend for wide releases in Germany caused most holdovers to get hammered and this film was no exception as it plummeted 70% to just $175,000 for the weekend, which still lifted the film's total to $7,387,789 in the market and $42 million internationally.
  • Danny the Dog added another $147,519 to its $3,022,463, four week total in Japan. The film also opened in Poland over the weekend with $40,000 on 35 screens, for a distant fifth place finish.
  • The Interpreter has nearly dropped off the radar screens but did add $175,000 during the week in France for a $6 million box office in the market and $151 million worldwide.
  • Are We There Yet? opened in New Zealand just missing the top five with $156,000 on 49 screens. Overall the film has struggled internationally with just $14.75 million so far.
  • Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants was one of the few films not to see growth in New Zealand this week as it dipped 3% to $29,000 for a $90,000 two-week total. On the other hand, the film earned $120,000 in Australia lifting its total there to $1.23 million.
  • The Upside of Anger had one of the better week-to-week drop-offs in Germany declining by a mere 63% to $99,000. On the other hand, the film fell by just 33% in Austria for $37,000 for the week. The film has earned $514,000 and $93,000 in those two markets respectively and $5.3 million internationally.
  • After a better than expected opening in Hong Kong, Sahara lost more than 80% in a free-fall to just $28,000. On the other hand, the film grew 135% during its second weekend in Sweden, finishing with $63,250 for the week and $90,600 during its run.
  • Lords of Dogtown opened in Italy and did as well as one would expect, making $81,376 on 102 screens.
  • Pooh's Heffalump Movie exploded in New Zealand, shooting up by 137% to $73,000 for the weekend and $180,000 for its run. However, a lot of films saw substantial increases in that market and Pooh's Heffalump Movie wasn't even the fastest growing film in the top ten.
  • Nicotina snagged 14th place in its debut in Germany with $70,448 on 26 screens.
  • Melinda and Melinda had one of the better week-to-week performances in Germany this weekend, but still tumbled 56% to $64,000. The film now has nearly $750,000 in the market and more than $15.3 million internationally.
  • National Lampoon's Gold Diggers added another $54,000 to its $300,000 total in Russia.
  • Racing Stripes opened in eighth place in Sweden with $51,000 on 35 screens, but despite that setback, its $34.7 million international box office is better than one would expect given the target audience of the film.
  • King's Ransom opened in South Africa with $41,000 on 16 screens, which is more than I thought it would make.
  • Because of Winn-Dixie opened in Australia with just $37,000 on 119 screens.
  • My Summer of Love added another $30,000 to its box office in Australia for $200,000, three-week total.
  • Guess Who debuted in just 5 theaters in Sweden, but its $21,000 was enough to reach ninth place. So far the film has brought in just $19.4 million internationally, which is not surprising given its subject matter.
  • Kung Fu Hustle opened in a few more markets this week finishing out of the top ten in the Netherlands with $20,000, and in tenth place in Belgium (no box office data is available) and Brazil (box office data should be available next week). The film has $96.4 million worldwide, but unless it's a big hit in Australia when it opens in August, it will likely miss the $100 million mark.
  • Being Julia is showing amazing resilience in Italy, which is not surprising since that market is generally kind to Oscar contenders and limited releases. This week the film added $18,230 on just 17 screens for a six-week total of $543,982.
  • Five Children and It had the best week-to-week performance in New Zealand skyrocketing by 155%, however, it had such a poor performance during its opening that it still only managed $15,700 on 48 screens.
  • Steamboy opened in Hong Kong, bringing in just $2,000 in its lone theater. Expectations for this film were high, perhaps too high; it really never had a chance.
  • The Pacifier slipped out of the top ten in France, again, but not before hitting $5 million in the market and $195.5 million worldwide.

  • For some reason there's been a long delay in getting the Japanese box office numbers, but they're finally in and there are a few films needing an update. For instance, Samurai Commando 1549 added $162,927 this weekend to its $14,616,085 running tally in the market, which is about $3 million ahead of Batman Begins in the market.
  • Million Dollar Baby dropped out of the top then in Japan but not before earning $11.25 million in the market. That puts the last reliable international box office number at $115.6 million.
  • The Ring 2 wrapped up its run in the top ten in Japan a couple of weeks ago but before it fell off radar screens it managed $2.4 million in the market and $82.9 million internationally.

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Filed under: International Box Office, Wedding Crashers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Longest Yard, The Pacifier, Million Dollar Baby, Monster-in-Law, The Ring Two, Sin City, The Interpreter, Guess Who, Sahara, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Bewitched, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Racing Stripes, Boogeyman, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Because of Winn-Dixie, House of Wax, Danny the Dog, A Lot Like Love, George A. Romero's Land of the Dead, Valiant, The Upside of Anger, Pooh's Heffalump Movie, Kung Fu Hustle, Lords of Dogtown, Being Julia, King's Ransom, Melinda and Melinda, Nicotina, My Summer of Love, Steamboy, National Lampoon's Gold Diggers, Are We There Yet?, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D