Fockers Flatten Competition

February 2, 2005

Meet the Fockers open in the U.K. over the weekend with an astounding $14.8 million on 456, which is more than four times the original's earnings there in 2000. That figure was also more than 8 times the second place film , and more than half the market's total box office. Add in a handful of openings in other, mostly smaller markets and the film brought in $19.2 million on 1,700 screens in 15 markets for a $58.8 million total so far.

A strong showing with Oscar Nominations helped The Aviator jump into second spot with $12.5 million. Openings included $4.4 million in France and $1.1 million in Mexico, while the film held up well in Germany with $1.6 million. The film has earned $34.7 million after opening in 22 markets so far.

Closer slipped a spot to third with $9.8 million on 2,300 screens in 27 markets. This included a first place, $1.6 million opening in Australia, but also a nearly 50% second stint slump in France. Better news came from Taiwan where the film had a first place, $215,000 opening on 19 screens and Holland where the film opened third with $235,000 on 27 screens. The film has now pulled in $45.1 million internationally, nearly a quarter of which comes from the U.K.

Dropping from first to fourth was Ocean's Twelve with $7.5 million on 3,500 screens in 58 markets for a $185 million international total. The film held up well in Japan, dropping a respectable 29% to $3.9 million - good enough for first place. The film, which has already topped $300 million worldwide, opens in its last major market, the U.K., on Friday.

Boosted by first place openings in several, mostly smaller markets, Elektra was able to capture the final spot in the top five with $5.5 million on 1,700 screens in 13 markets for an early international total of $14.4 million. Its best opening came in Spain where the film brought in $1.9 million on 350 screens, but on the down side, the film plummeted 69% during its second weekend in the U.K. falling out of the top ten there.

Other highlights on the international scene include:

  • The Incredibles continues to wind down its run while hitting a couple of major milestones this past weekend. The $4.6 million the film earned this weekend pushed its international total to $353.3 million, which was enough for the film to leap ahead of Forest Gump and Armageddon and into 19th place on the all time charts. Worldwide the film now has $611 million, which puts it ahead of Passion of the Christ and into fourth place for the year and 24th all-time.
  • National Treasure has dropped out of the top ten in most major and secondary markets, but did earn $4.2 million over the weekend to push its international tally to $135 million and $302 million worldwide.
  • Alexander plummeted out of the top five, landing at $4.0 million on 2,200 screens in 51 markets for an international box office of $112.5 million. Its best result of the weekend came in Italy where the film dropped out of top spot with $1.2 million on 440 screens.
  • Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events opened in five more markets over the weekend, including Germany, but despite this the film could only manage $3.75 million on 2,100 screens in 17 markets for a $55.8 million running tally. The biggest opening of the weekend came in Germany, where the film could manage no better than $1.3 million on just under 400 screens for a less than inspiring per screen average. It faired no better in Turkey, ($260,000 on 99 screens), Austria, ($190,000 on 50), Denmark, ($145,000 on 35) and the Germany speaking region of Switzerland, ($90,000 on 29 screens.)
  • Without the built-in audiences it enjoys in the US, Ray has not had a strong run internationally. However, it had its best week this week, bringing in $3.6 million on 1,200 screens in 2 markets for a total of $8.88 million so far. Its best result was in Australia where the film earned a fourth place, $570,000 finish on 180 screens, ($850,000 including previews). However, it really struggled in Japan, ($400,000 on 103 screens) and Spain, ($400,000 on 129).
  • A Very Long Engagement had a $1 million opening in Germany on just 244 screens, good enough for a fifth place finish. The film also did well in Spain, ($586,000 on 121 screens), Greece ($300,000 on 24 screens), and Sweden, ($112,000 on 12 screens) for a $3 million weekend and a $44 million total.
  • Howl's Moving Castle dropped a couple of spots to fourth in France with $1.2 million. The film is still going strong in Japan, where it added an estimated $1.8 million to its $193 million box office in that one market alone.
  • As expected Blade: Trinity fell nearly 60% in Germany to $1.9 million, but that was still good enough for first in the market. The movie had a similar drop in Austria, but thanks to a second place, $300,000 opening in South Africe, the film earned $2.9 million over the weekend on 1,400 screens in just 11 markets. Also worth noting, the film now has $48.1 million internationally and $100.1 million worldwide.
  • Again Kung Fu Hustle had no new openings over the weekend as it added $1.4 million on 600 screen in 8 markets to its $61.8 million running tally.
  • Assault on Precinct 13 opened in third place in the U.K. wit $1.3 million on 321 screens. A reasonable start, but nothing too special.
  • SpongeBob Squarepants's opening in Spain was very soft at just $456,000 on just over 200 screens. That was the lion's share of its $1.3 million overall box office, but its $24.6 million so far as to be looked at as a bit of a disappointment.
  • Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason earned just $1.1 million over the weekend pushing its international box office total to $202 million.
  • Sideways took in $660,000 on just 72 screens in the U.K., good enough for 8th place in the market. The film opened in seventh place in Australia with $411,000 on just 59 screens, ($815,000 if you include sneak peaks) good enough for seventh place on the overall charts and the second highest per screen average in the top twenty.
  • After a strong second weekend holdover in the U.K., Team America: World Police plummeted 57% to just $910,000 for a total of $8.1 million in that market. Its performance in that market was nearly all of its $1.0 million weekend total and $13.9 million international total.
  • Around the World in 80 Days opened in its final market, Italy, and over the weekend it brought in $600,000 on 146 screens. Not a good start and barely more than $500,000 it took in during its sixth weekend in Germany.
  • The Grudge dropped 41% in its second weekend in Spain to $1.0 million, which is actually a better result than expected. So far the film has earned $3 million in that market and $49 million internationally.
  • Mean Girls finally opened in France over the weekend but could only manage $1.0 million on 300 screens, which was only good enough for fifth place. The film currently has made $41.5 million internationally and won't open in Japan until March.
  • This coming weekend should be busy for Million Dollar Baby, but right now its only playing in the one market, earning $850,000 in the U.K. over the weekend for a $5.4 million total in the market.
  • House of Flying Daggers dropped to fifth place during its second weekend of release in Italy with $700,000. That represents a close to 40% drop-off, which is a little high for the market.
  • White Noise hung around in the top ten in the U.K. for one more weekend with $650,000, more than 60% lower than last weekend. So far the film has had only one major opening, but it did make $11.4 million there. It opens this weekend in France, and should do well in Spain when it opens there next week.
  • Racing Stripes continues to have strong legs in Australia, climbing a spot to third place during its fourth week in that market. Over the weekend, the film added $580,000 to its $5.8 million total there.
  • Shall We Dance? has already topped its domestic box office with $64 million, but it still has a few more markets to open in. This past weekend the film opened in first place in South Africa with $500,00.
  • Raising Helen opened in 8th place in Italy with $350,000. That's on par with the rest of its $11.5 million international run.
  • Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid opened in Italy over the weekend but barely managed to snag a place in the top ten with just $300,000.
  • After a better than expected opening in Australia last weekend, Alfie went into free fall dropping from 5th to 12th with just $300,000.
  • Andrew Lloyd-Webber's The Phantom of the Opera crashed during its second week in France bringing in just $200,000 for a $800,000 total in the market.
  • After starting out weak, Ladder 49 lost more than 80% of its box office during its second weekend in the U.K. free-falling to just $150,000.
  • Raise Your Voice continues to wrap up its Australian run with $120,000 this weekend for a $2.3 million total there.
  • Seed of Chucky opened in third place in Hong Kong with $100,000 on 23 screens. So far the film has only opened in a handful of markets bringing in roughly $3 million.

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Source: Variety

Filed under: International Box Office, Meet the Fockers, The Incredibles, National Treasure, Ocean's Twelve, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Grudge, The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, Mean Girls, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie, Ray, Ladder 49, Sideways, Shall We Dance?, White Noise, Blade: Trinity, The Phantom of the Opera, Racing Stripes, Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, Raising Helen, Alexander, Closer, Team America: World Police, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Elektra, Around the World in 80 Days, Assault On Precinct 13, Kung Fu Hustle, Seed of Chucky, Alfie, House of Flying Daggers, Raise Your Voice, Un long dimanche de fiançailles, Hauru no ugoku shiro