Looper poised to rule int'l, Ice Age 4 sets animation record

Roughly $16.7m of the weekend haul for Constantin-Davis Film-Impact Pictures’ Retribution came through Sony Pictures Releasing International and the studio has generated $127.6m of the overall $136.9m tally, while Constantin markets delivered $4.5m for the weekend and $9.9m overall.

Milla Jovovich and Co. stormed into Italy in second place on $1.5m from 290 and entered the UK at number three on $1.3m from 352.

The lead holdover market was Japan on $3.4m from 773 for $35.9m after three weekends, followed by Mexico’s $1.7m from 1,078 for $6.4m after two. Russia, Brazil and Venezuela have generated $15.3m, $7.9m and a notable $3.4m after three, respectively.

Retribution ranks number one in Venezeuela as well as in Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.

SPRI revised upwards by a considerable margin its estimated launch for animation Hotel Transylvania, which opened top in North America and arrived day-and-date in 13 markets on $11.2m from 1,700. Mexico led the way on $3.6m from 525 for number one, followed by Australia on $2.2m from 465 for third place in a result that climbs to $5.3m including paid previews. The Philippines produced $585,000 from 100 for number one.

• At time of writing the limited day-and-date international launch of Looper had amassed more than $12m from six territories licensed by FilmNation. The tally excludes China, which according to one report generated around $23m through DMG Entertainment in a result that will not be confirmed until Tuesday.

What is known is Looper opened top in Russia on an estimated $4.5m, top in the UK on $3.6m, second in Australia on $2.9m, second in Brazil on $850,000 and top in Israel on $250,000.

• UPDATE: Fox International/Blue Sky Studios’ Ice Age 4 overtook its predecessor to rank as the biggest animated release of all time internationally. It remains on course to cross $700m thanks to an $7.7m number one debut in Italy on 906 screens that accounted for the lion’s share of the $8.5m weekend from 1,084 in four markets. Ice Age 4 now ranks as the eighth biggest international release in history.

EuropaCorp’s Taken 2 opened early through Fox International in South Korea to take advantage of the Chuseok (Thanksgiving) holiday and the thriller placed second behind local title Masquerade on $6.4m from 665. Studio sources claimed the opening weekend produced more than three times above that of the original. Liam Neeson reprises his role as the family man with a very particular set of skills and Taken 2 will open next weekend in 47 markets day-and-date with North America.

Fox International Productions’ Raaz 3D stands at just below $18m in India after four weekends, while The Watch is at $2.37m, Prometheus $276.1m, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter $67.6m and Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days $19.8m. Chilean smash Stefan Vs Kramer has amassed $11.3m in nine weekends and remains the top attraction in terms of admissions.

• UPDATE: Ted added $9.5m from 2,655 sites in 46 territories through Universal Pictures International for $216.3m and opened in Hong Kong on $1.4m from 40 including paid previews. The potty-mouthed teddy bear held on to number one in its second weekend in Brazil as $1.3m from 247 boosted the running total to $3m.

The Bourne Legacy grossed $7.5m from 2,969 in 51 for $112.6m and inched past the $112.3m lifetime total of The Bourne Supremacy to rank as the second biggest of the series behind The Bourne Ultimatum.

Savages stands at $13.2m, ParaNorman $32.6m and Anna Karenina ranks tenth in its fourth weekend in the UK on $7.5m.

• UPDATE: Paramount Pictures International confirmed on Monday (Oct 1) that DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3 continued to play well in 1,836 locations in 34 countries and grossed $6.7m for a $423.3m running total after 17 weekends.

The film opened in German-speaking Switzerland on $1.2m from 91 screens and the local tally for all of Switzerland stands at $3m. The family film held firm at number one in Australia where box office climbed 32% to $3.6m from 286 for $15.3m.

The Adventures Of Tadeo Jones stayed top in its fifth weekend in Spain as $2m from 334 locations propelled the tally to $16.7m.

• UPDATE: Warner Bros Pictures International top brass reported that The Dark Knight Rises grossed $1.6m from 1,204 screens in 56 territories to reach $630.7m. The final box office for the UK came to $87.7m. In other final results, Batman generated $41.6m in South Korea, $25m in Japan and $17.5m in Russia. The film has produced $52.5m in China.

Les Seigneurs opened top in France on $8.7m including previews with 1.1m admissions nationwide from 608 screens nationwide. The release is a Vito Films, O.D. Shots and TF1 co-production

Schutzengel grossed $2.1m with more than 194,000 admissions from 513 screens in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. The result included $1.9m from 432 screens in Germany that ranked top in terms of the 173,500 admissions figure. The film is a Barefoot Films and Warner Bros production.

• Finding Nemo 3D added $1.1m through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International to reach $10.2m.
• UPDATE: Focus Features International reported that To Rome With Love added $2.2m through all distributors for $47.8m. Moonrise Kingdom generated $154,026 for an $18.4m running total.