International Top Five - Ending the Year with Milestones
January 4, 2008
I Am Legend maintained first place with $43.94 million on 3176 screens in 24 markets for a total of $117.91 million during its run. Its best opening this week came in the U.K. where it pulled in $13.01 million on 440 screens over the weekend and $21.84 million since Boxing Day. At this pace, even if the film had no markets left to open in, it would be able to reach $200 million internationally. And with debuts in Germany, Italy, Australia, and other major markets left to go, it should hit $300 million internationally and more than $500 million worldwide.
His Dark Material: The Golden Compass just missed the $200 million mark over the weekend as it added $36.96 million on 7060 screens in 41 markets for a total of $195.47 million. It goes without saying that it reached that milestone since then. The film opened in Australia on Boxing Day earning $3.52 million on 327 screens over the weekend and $4.96 million in total. Meanwhile the film added $4.35 million on 458 screens over the weekend in the U.K. and has $40.50 million in total, which is one of the biggest hits of the year in that market and quite a contrast to its performance here. The film has yet to open in Japan, but the unless the film is an absolute smash hit there, it won't improve its fortunes enough to really matter. It may break even after it makes it to network TV, but that's a long ways away.
National Treasure: The Book of Secrets landed in third place during its second weekend of release with $21.54 million on 3947 screens in 24 markets for a total of $60.34 million after just two week. This includes a first place finish in Mexico over the past weekend with $2.64 million on 749 screens. The original National Treasure earned almost exactly 50% of its box office internationally, and I suspect it will be the same this time around. Perhaps it will perform a little better overseas since the movie has a more international flavor, but it is too early to really tell.
It was yet another milestone in the top five as Enchanted crossed the $100 million mark and has now earned more internationally than it has domestically, at least at the end of the weekend. The film opened in Australia but only managed third place with $2.47 million over the weekend and $3.33 million since Boxing Day. It fell to third place in the U.K. but it was very, very close to second place as it added $4.27 million on 498 screens over the weekend for a total of $20.53 million. Meanwhile in Germany the film added $2.97 million on 637 screens over the weekend for a total of $6.30 million. The film has openings in South Korea and Japan coming up and depending on how well it does there, it could reach $300 million worldwide, or more.
Bee Movie rounded out the top five with $18.70 million on 4692 screens in 39 markets, and was the third film in the top five to reach $100 million over the weekend with a running tally of $106.86 million. The film opens in South Korea this weekend and Japan at the end of the month and could reach $300 million worldwide as well.
Filed under: International Box Office, I am Legend, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Enchanted, Bee Movie, The Golden Compass