International Top Five - Competition can't Unbutton Benjamin From the Top of the Chart
February 25, 2009
No major, or midlevel openings left The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button down 30% this weekend; however, it still earned more than enough to remain in top spot on the international charts.
It earned $21.20 million on 5,516 screens over the weekend in 55 markets for a total of $153.15 million, which is the second best total for a David Fincher film.
(Only Se7en earned more.)
The film's best market was Italy where it added $3.10 million on 502 screens over the weekend for a total of $8.65 million after two.
It was also very strong in France adding $3.06 million on 584 screens, giving the film a three-week total of $14.72 million.
With no major openings left ahead, the film will have to rely on holdovers to grow its worldwide box office, but it is only $50 million away from overtaking Se7en and becoming the biggest hit in David Fincher's career.
This is great news, because it was an very, very expensive movie to make.
Bolt is also running on holdovers at the moment as it slipped 29% to $11.65 million on 3,372 screens in 35 markets for a total of $154.87 million internationally and $268.93 million worldwide.
The film remained in first place in the U.K., growing by 6% to $4.37 million on 494 screens for a total of $19.85 million after just two weeks of release.
This is close to what it earned here in total, given the relative size of the two markets.
Meanwhile in France it was down just 12% to $3.75 million on 695 screens over the weekend for a total of $15.14 million.
Slumdog Millionaire returned to the top five with $8.52 million on 2,007 screens in 26 markets for a total of $75.54 million.
The film opened in third place in Mexico with $512,000 on 225 screens, while it added $2.27 million on 427 screens during its seventh week of release in the U.K. for a total of $33.40 million.
The film has yet to open in Germany, South Korea, and a number of smaller markets, and it should have no trouble reaching $100 million by the time it finishes its run.
He's Just Not That Into You also had no major openings while earning $8.41 million on 2,266 screens in 26 markets for a total of 33.83 million.
Its best market was Australia where it added $1.65 million on 253 screens over the weekend for a total of $5.66 million.
It also performed well in the U.K., adding $1.42 million on 369 screens for a total of $10.66 million.
Valkyrie slipped a spot to fifth with $6.96 million on 3,973 screens in 48 markets for a total of $83.75 million.
It wasn't able to earn $1 million in any single market, but it came reasonably close in Mexico with $862,000 on 523 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.01 million after two.
Next up for the film in China this weekend, while it ends its run in Japan in April.
Filed under: International Box Office, Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bolt, He's Just Not That Into You, Valkyrie