International Details - Saw Sees Better Days

December 11, 2006

Saw III slipped another spot to sixth with $4.46 million on 1518 screens in 29 markets for an international total of $54.27 million. Its best opening of the weekend came in South Korea where it placed third with $1.08 million on 144 screens, which is the last major opening for the film this year.

• Deja Vu shot up the charts placing seventh with $3.86 million on 922 screens in 5 markets for a two-week total of $5.58 million. The film opened in first place in Spain with $2.47 million on 432 screens, which was the best Spanish opening in Denzel Washington's career. (It was reported that he also had career best openings in Malaysia and Taiwan, but exact numbers were not released.) The film only had one holdover and that was in Mexico where it dipped a tiny 16% to $870,000 on 400 screens for a two-week total of $2.49 million.
• The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause opened in first place in Mexico with $1.04 million on 310 screens; that was the best opening for the franchise in that market, but films of this nature tend to perform better in this market so the studio can't be overly happy with the result. On the other hand, the film remained in third place in the U.K. despite direct competition from two new films. The film fell just 21% to $1.98 million on 380 screens for a total of $5.30 million there. Overall the film added $3.85 million on 1384 screens in 12 markets to its international total of $10.38 million after a month of release.
• Dhoom 2: Back in Action fell 44% this week to $3.81 million on 749 screens in 20 markets for a two-week total of $13.67 million. Sharp drop-offs are common for niche market films. In the U.K., for instance, the film was down 43% to $467,000 on 50 screens, but that wasn't the worst in the top ten. It has brought in $1.75 million in that one market after just two weeks. One last note, it was reported last week that the film set a record for screen count in India but the actual number wasn't released. Further research came up with 692 screens.
• Open Season fell to tenth place with $2.98 million on 2898 screens in 51 markets for a total of $80.89 million. This week the film opened in second place in Australia with $1.01 million on 232 screens and it has yet to open in Italy, Japan, and other, smaller markets.
• Pan's Labyrinth saw serious expansion this week just missing the top ten with $2.71 million on 769 screens in 9 markets for a total of $21.17 million. Its best opening came in South Korea where it placed second with $1.03 million on 141 screens. The film also opened in Russia with $379,000 on 87 screens for seventh place, but that is still a good placing considering its limited screen count. Strong legs continue to help the film has it was down just 17% during its second weekend in the U.K., the best week-to-week drop-off in the top ten there. Over the weekend it added $488,000 on 81 screens for a total of $1.51 million.
• Love and Honor opened in first place in Japan with $2.57 million on 353 screens over the weekend. It is not unusual for local films to top the charts there, but its competition hasn't been topped in very many markets so far.
• Deck the Halls added roughly 20 new markets this week but only earned $2.36 million on 855 screens in 23 markets for a total of $3.24 million. Most of the growth came from the U.K. where it opened in fifth place with $1.19 million on 307 screens while it also opened in Italy with just $234,000 on 99 screens placing 10th in the process.
• Desu Noto 2, a.k.a., Death Note 2: The Last Name fell from first to third in Japan with $1.84 million on 318 screens for a total of $37.42 million in that market. Adding in other markets and it managed $2.33 million on 472 screens in 4 markets for a total of $40.43 million after a month of release.
• Prete-Moi Ta Main, a.k.a., Rent A Wife landed in 15th place with $2.08 million on 548 screens in 3 markets for a total of $24.51 million.
• The Power Of Fear opened in first place in Russia with $2.07 million on 314 screens, which was nearly three times what its nearest competition made.
• There were six new films in the top ten and Anplagghed Al Cinema still remained in first place it its native Italian with $1.96 million on 467 screens over the weekend and $5.77 million in total.
• Perfume: The Story of a Murderer added $1.88 million on 622 screens in 11 markets to its international total of $89.69 million. Most of the weekend's haul came from Spain where it added $1.54 million on 309 screens to its two-week total of $4.42 million. On the other hand, most of its international total has come from Germany where it has made $50.96 million so far.
• Sunflower remained in first place in its native South Korea with $1.84 million on 282 screens over the weekend and $5.68 million.
• A Good Year climbed back into the top 20 with $1.76 million on 1410 screens in 35 markets for a total of just $18.97 million. The film opened in several smaller markets with the biggest being Mexico where it placed fifth with $322,000 on 200 screens while it managed third in Brazil with $235,000 on 57.
• The Hong Kong film, Muk Gong, slipped to 21st place with $1.67 million on 526 screens in 4 markets for a two-week total of $7.65 million.
• The Devil Wears Prada is just wrapping up its international run and that led to it having the worst week-to-week drop-off on the charts this week. However, it still added $1.62 million on 944 screens in 9 markets for a total of $186.63 million. Most of this weekend's haul came from Japan where it was down just 22% to $1.02 million on 297 screens for a three-week total of $8.73 million.
• Babel had to rely on holdovers this weekend and it fell 10 places as a result. It did add $1.58 million on 757 screens in 14 markets for a total of $20.05 million internationally.
• Any real hope for The Nativity Story pretty much ended this weekend as it only managed 24th place with $1.53 million on 1464 screens in 15 markets during its international debut. The film did mediocre business in Italy earning fourth place with $727,000 on 437 screens, and this was after earning massive publicity by premiering at the Vatican earlier. In Spain the film died placing 13th with just $255,000 on 219 screens while managed just 16th in Mexico with $150,000 on 199 screens. Those are all heavily Catholic markets where the film was expected to do well, on the other hand, expectations were lower in Australia and New Zealand, but the film still disappointed with $85,000 on 108 screens and $35,000 on 37 respectively.
• Ne Le Dis A Personne, a.k.a. Tell No One landed in 25th place with $1.48 million on 501 screens in 2 markets for a total of $19.45 million after a month of release.
• The Prestige had to rely on holdovers, again, and that sent it falling down the charts with $1.45 million on 774 screens in 20 markets for a total of $25.22 million.
• After three weeks in a row of strong holds, Step Up fell 40% and nearly 10 places this week. Overall it added $1.35 million on 497 screens in 18 markets for a total of $36.42 million internationally.
• The Guardian returned to the charts with $1.32 million on 576 screens in 21 markets for a total of $27.20 million. Most of that came from two markets, Australia with $598,000 on 208 screens and Poland with $114,000 on 45 screens.
• The Illusionist is holding strong with $1.20 million on 409 screens in 6 markets for a total of $15.17 million, mostly in semi-limited release. Its best market was again Spain where it had the best week-to-week drop-off in the top ten down just 23% to $997,000 on 205 screens lifting its total to $4.45 million in that market.
• The Children of Men nearly fell out of the charts with $1.18 million on 859 screens in 23 markets for a total of $29.50 million internationally.
• Jackass: Number Two fell out of the top 30 but still added $1.2 million on 675 screens in 14 markets to its international total, a total that sits at $10.63 million at last report.
• Little Miss Sunshine added $923,000 on 400 screens to its international total of $24.9 million, most of which has been earned in semi-limited release. This include $409,000 on 104 screens in Germany, where the film placed sixth over the weekend.
• Will Ferrell doesn't have much drawing power internationally, but many thought since Stranger Than Fiction isn't your typical Will Ferrell movie it would be different. However, its first international market is proving otherwise as the film opened in seventh place in the U.K. with $730,000 on 186 screens.

Filed under: International Box Office, The Devil Wears Prada, Open Season, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Saw III, Jackass: Number Two, Step Up, Déjà Vu, Little Miss Sunshine, The Guardian, The Prestige, Stranger Than Fiction, The Illusionist, El Laberinto del Fauno, The Nativity Story, Children of Men, Deck the Halls, Babel, A Good Year, Dhoom 2, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer