Dark Of The Moon scores $40m-plus Chinese debut

They proved to be right as Transformers: Dark Of The Moon generated a staggering $40m-plus debut to push the action sci-fi across the half-billion mark with ease.

The biggest ever launch of an American film in China contributed to the overall $62m weekend gross from 12,554 sites in 60 markets as the Dark Of The Moon climbed to $556.5m.

In the fourth weekend, Germany produced a further $2.3m from 550 for $34.6m, while South Korea generated $2.2m from 379 for $65.5m. France has delivered $24.8m, Australia $38.1m, the UK $41.9m, Russia $43.8m, Brazil $21.2m and Mexico $28.7m. Japan will be the final market on Friday [29].

DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 2 grossed $8.3m from 4,165 venues in 58 for $437.2m. The family sequel arrived in Hong Kong on $1.6m from 43 and added $1.4m from 789 in France for $23.8m in the sixth weekend. The final two markets of Japan and Italy received the film in August.

Speaking of Italy, Captain America: The First Avenger ventured into its first international market day-and-date with the impressive North American debut, grossing a very respectable $2.8m from 327.

The summer’s latest superhero release touches down in 23 next weekend and is expected to make a splash in the UK, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and Argentina.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International reported a $17.7m weekend for Cars 2 from 31 territories to reach $173.7m.

The latest Pixar release arrived in the UK on $6.1m (£3.8m), which executives said performed 42% better than the launch of Cars, which went on to gross £16.5m.

Leading territories are Mexico on $24.6m, Australia on $20.7m, Russia and Brazil each on $19.5m and Italy on $14.2m.

The worldwide tally stands at $350.1m. Next weekend’s new territories are France, Germany and Japan.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides added $900,000 as the international running total climbed to $794.6m. The global figure is $1.032bn, making this the sixth biggest release in history behind Toy Story 3 on $1.064bn.

Sony Pictures Releasing International’s family release Zookeeper brought in $9m from 2,325 in 35 markets as the early tally reached $28.8m.

The film launched in 19 markets led by a $1.9m debut in second place in Russia on 518 screens. A further $2.6m from 616 in Germany raised the running total after three weekends to $10.5m. Zookeeper stands at $7.7m in Mexico after three.

Bad Teacher crossed $70m following $7.9m from 2,204 in 32. The R-rated comedy opened well in second place in Australia on $3.2m from 242. Germany has generated $16.2m after four, Russia $12.2m after two and the UK $12.5m after five.

Another R-rated comedy enjoying the summer is Bridesmaids and it too crossed $70m through Universal Pictures International following a $7.9m weekend from 1,905 in 33 territories. The figure is $70.7m and there are 23 territories to go including France, Spain and Italy in August.

Bridesmaids opened well in Germany in fourth place on $2.1m from 414 and the Austrian debut produced $465,000 from 78 in third place. The film also arrived in Sweden and did well, grossing $320,000 from 94 in second place.

The UK led holdovers as $1.8m in the fifth weekend resulted in Universal’s biggest release of the year-to-date on $29.5m. Australia has generated $26.2m after six weekends.

Hop stands at $74.3m and opened in South Korea on $600,000 from 183. Paul stands at $57m, Fast And Furious Five has reached $394.3m and $603.7m worldwide with a good chance of coasting past $400m when it opens in Japan on Oct 11, while Beginners is on $1.8m and opened in the UK on $254,000 from 69.

Summit International reported that Vendome Productions and Playtone Productions’ Larry Crowne added $2.2m from 1,300 sites in 20 countries for $16.8m. The rom-com opened in Australia on $890,000 from 210 including $30,000 in previews.