Dark Knight Rises prevails in seventh international session

Warner Bros’ Batman finale and Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man went week head-to-head there. Italy was the kingmaker as a solid first week enabled The Dark Knight Rises to rule overall.

However the impact of China will be the chief talking point. The booming territory’s influence cannot be overstated and demonstrates a perhaps unprecedented ability to shape the box office landscape.

The Dark Knight Rises took approximately $28.5m from 4,100 screens in the first week in the Asian territory. Including $8.8m from 836 in the first six days in Italy, the crime thriller brought in a further $46.4m from 10,156 screens in 64 markets to reach $574m internationally and more than $1bn worldwide.

The Amazing Spider-Man grossed $33.7m through Sony Pictures Releasing International, driven mostly by a muscular first week in China that delivered a number one rank and $33.3m since Monday’s launch (Aug 27). The Friday to Sunday portion accounted for $14.5m. The superhero romp remains active in 59 markets and stands at $475.3m overall.

Total Recallbrought itself to the cusp of $100m after four weekends, as $13m from 5,282 screens in 74 markets propelled the running total to $98.7m. The sci-fi reboot opened top in the UK on $4.4m from 701 screens and added $1.3m in the third weekend in France from 534 for $8m. Total Recall has grossed $12.6m in Russia and $12.2m in Japan, both after four.

The Bourne Legacy surged to $61.3m thanks to a $12.6m session through Universal Pictures International from 3,550 sites in 37 territories. It opened top in four of 14 new territories, led by Russia on $3.8m from 660. The UK generated $1.2m from 459 in the third weekend for $15.7m. Brazil and South Korea are among the wave of 27 new territories this week.

Ted grossed $7.1m from 2,223 in 34 for $168.4m and after five weekends stands at $26.6m in Germany and $44.1m in the UK, where it ranks as Universal’s second biggest release since 2007 behind Mamma Mia. It opened top in Thailand on a notable $603,000 from 41.

ParaNormanadded $3.1m from 2,400 in 20 for an early $17.5m. Laika Entertainment’s follow-up to Coraline has taken $2.7m in Russia and $1.9m in France, both after two sessions. The Expendables has grossed $16.8m in Russia after three and $6m in Italy after the same amount of time. Step Up Revolution stands at $19.8m from Universal territories. Moonrise Kingdom opened in Australia on $616,000 from 51 including $174,000 in previews.

DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3 grossed $8.9m from 2,740 sites is 34 countries through Paramount Pictures International and stands at $388m. The Dictator added $1.5m from 913 cinemas in 17 markets and has reached $115.3m.

Local animated title Tadeo Jones opened top in Spain on an excellent $3.1m from 326 locations. The opening day was the best all summer for an animated title and the best for a Spanish release so far in 2012.

Fox International’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter took $6.1m from 2,399 in 21 markets to raise the tally to $53.9m following a $1.7m number one debut in Mexico on 1,044 screens. It opened in South Korea on $1.7m from 337 to rank as the top Hollywood film in release and debuted in Spain in second place on $1.2m from 533.

Ice Age: Continental Drift added $5m from 3,940 in 40 for $675.5m while Prometheus added $4.5m from 1,753 in seven for $225.5m. Chilean smash Stefan Vs Kramer grossed a further $543,418 from 88 screens to reach $9.4m in its home country. It held on to top spot and ranks as the third biggest release in Chile behind Ice Age 4 and Avatar.

Lionsgate International reported that US number one film The Possession launched day-and-date on approximately 1,600 screens in 17 markets and grossed $5m over the weekend. It opened in the UK on $1.5m and debuted in CIS on $1.2m. THe Mexican launch generated $926,000.

Animated independent Zambezia ranked second in its second weekend in Russia, where it is co-distributed by Bazelevs and All Media Content And Licensing, and added $1.6m for $3.5m after two weekends. Cinema Management Group handles international sales on Zambezia.