Paramount’s Transformers: Age Of Extinction will cross the half-billion threshold despite what is expected to be a strong challenge from Fox’s Apes.

The sci-fi tentpole has stormed to $435.2m through Paramount Pictures International and should have enough stamina to rule international for third weekend in a row.

Transformers: Age Of Extinction arrives this weekend in 12 markets including the UK, Mexico, Sweden and Norway.

It also debuts in Argentina, which could translate into a soft Sunday given that the national team contests the World Cup final against Germany.

Similarly results in the Netherlands may below what PPI executives would have hoped for at the planning stage as the side is in action against hosts Brazil on Saturday for the third-fourth play-off.

The robots creatures will face a challenge from the primates as Fox International uncages Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes day-and-date with North America in territories.

The studio anticipates strong debuts across the board, with likely peaks likely to come from Australia, South Korea and South Africa.

DreamWorks Animation’s How To Train Your Dragon 2 arrives in the UK and stands at $177.2m. Rico, Oskar Und Die Tieferschatten debuts in German-speaking Europe.

Global hit The Fault In Our Stars has grossed $110.7m, while Rio 2 stands at $357.4m and The Grand Budapest Hotel $108.7m. X-Men: Days Of Future Past has amassed $501.7m.

Warner Bros Pictures International’s Edge Of Tomorrow stands at $251m, Godzilla $292m, Blended $44.7m and Jersey Boys $8.3m.

22 Jump Street has grossed $75.2m through Sony Pictures Releasing International and arrives in several territories including Portugal.

Horror-thriller Deliver Us From Evil stands on an early $3.4m and ventures into five smaller markets, while Battle Of The Year debuts in Spain and faith-based US hit Heaven Is For Real opens in Bolivia and Peru.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s Maleficent has amassed $429.5m, Frozen $867.8m and Tinkerbell: Pirate Fairy $55.4m.

Universal Pictures International’s A Million Way To Die In The West opens into Russia and Belgium this weekend.

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