Universal continued its impressive international roll-out of 8 Mile with a record bow in Australia today (Jan 16), where the rap drama's $975,000 (A$1.7m) one-day haul marked the biggest January opening in Australian box office history. It was also distributor UIP's biggest ever opening in the territory - beating Meet the Parents, Mission: Impossible II and Tomorrow Never Dies - and the eighth biggest industry bow of all time.

The Australian result follows successful openings in Germany and Austria and after two weeks in international release the picture has a cumulative total of $14.5m. In Germany the Eminem-starrer has grossed $11m in two weeks and scored Universalis fifth biggest opening of all time, going straight in at number two behind The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers. In Austria it debuted in first place and was Universal's second biggest opening of all time behind American Pie 2. After two weeks it has taken $1.7m.

"8 Mile continues to exceed our international expectations," Randy Greenberg, senior vice president of international theatrical distribution and marketing for Universal Pictures, said in a statement. "This latest success sets us up perfectly for this weekend - when we will open in nine additional territories."

The picture, which was directed by Curtis Hanson and co-stars Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer and Brittany Murphy, will open this weekend in the UK, Mexico, the Netherlands and six other markets.