Disney/Pixar's Cars 2 on top overseas on $43m launch

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s staggered release pattern is typical for Pixar releases of late and the results have vindicated the policy: in recent years Toy Story 3 and Up have amassed $648.2m and $438.3m, respectively.

Combined with the $68m North American launch the global tally after three days stands at $110.9m. The key drivers were Russia on $9.3m for the biggest Pixar launch and Disney’s second biggest animated debut behind Tangled. The release has already surpassed the entire run of Cars by a factor of 2.5.

Cars 2 grossed $8.1m in Mexico for the second biggest Pixar launch behind Toy Story 3; $7.6m in Brazil for the biggest Pixar debut; $5.7m in Italy over five days; and $5.2m in Australia for Disney’s third biggest animated launch. Other notable debuts produced $1.8m in Colombia and $1.1m in Panama.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides added $13.5m as the behemoth reached $756.1m internationally and $985.2m globally. It should cross $1bn at the worldwide box office by next weekend.

Already confirmed as the third biggest international release in history behind Titanic and Avatar, Pirates 4 ranks as the eighth biggest global release and has in its sights The Dark Knight on $1.001.9bn and Disney stablemate Alice In Wonderland on $1.024.3bn.

• DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 2 brought in a further $32.9m through PPI from 10,467 locations in 46 countries for a $336m international running total. The only new debut was in Australia, where the adventure yarn took $4.8m including previews from 259 sites.

Germany led holdover business on $4.4m from 700 for $12.9m, followed by France where $3.7m from 884 in the second weekend was good enough for first place and a $12.1m tally.

Elsewhere Kung Fu Panda 2 stands at $38.3m in South Korea after five weekends, $18.8m in the UK after three and $15.8m in Brazil after three. Mexico has generated $17.3m, Spain $6.1m and Argentina $6.6m.

Super 8 grossed $9.9m from 2,373 in 26 countries for an early $35.6m running total and opened top in Japan on $4.9m from 323 locales. The sci-fi mystery added $1.9m in Russia from 601 for $7.6m after two weekends and $1m in Australia from 237 for $7.2m.

• Warner Bros Pictures International’s The Hangover Part II took a confirmed $16.5m from 5,574 screens in 56 markets for $284m. The comedy opened top in Spain on $2.9m from 671 screens including previews.

After five weekends it has reached $50.5m in the UK, $32.3m in Australia, $20.1m in France, $14.5 in Brazil, $13.2m in Italy and $11.6m in Mexico. After four it stands at $36.9m in Germany and $12.9m in Russia.

The Green Lantern added $7m from close to 3,000 screens in 16 markets as the running total climbed to an early $29.3m. The film added $1.8m in the UK for $7.7m after two weekends and opens in Germany and Spain this weekend.

• X-Men: First Class crossed $300m worldwide for Fox and stands at $187.3m overseas through Fox International following a confirmed $13.2m weekend from 6,914 screens in 68 markets. After four weekends the UK has generated $22.6m, South Korea $16.1m, France $15.9m, Australia $14.1m, Brazil $13.3m and Mexico $12.6m.

Mr Popper’s Penguins opened in 11 markets and earned $3.1m, most of which came from Germany on $1.2m from 594. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules stands at $17.5m and Black Swan has reached $220.3m.

• Sony Pictures Releasing International’s R-rated Cameron Diaz comedy Bad Teacher got off to a great start day-and-date with North America in select territories, grossing $12.9m from approximately 1,500 screens in 24 markets led by a powerhouse number one launch in Germany on $6.1m from 466.

The film added $1.9m in the UK from 441 in its second weekend for $7.3m. It also opened top in Austria on $975,000 from 70, Holland on $900,000 from 77 and Belgium on $650,000 from 45.

• Universal’s smash R-rated comedy Bridesmaids burst into 11 new territories to earn a confirmed $11.3m from 1,200 sites and push the early running total to $21.1m. It opened top in the UK on an excellent $5.5m from 482 and took third place in Russia on $1.3m from 333.

Australia led the holdover business and continues to reward the film handsomely, producing a further $3.9m from 234 venues for $12.6m

Fast And Furious Five added $1.4m from 1,800 in 47 for a magnificent $389m, which rises to $596.7m worldwide combining the $207.7m North American run. Japan will be the final release in October and should push the global figure past $600m.

Honey 2 has grossed $2.5m overseas while The Adjustment Bureau is on $57.6m through UPI, Senna $5.8m and The Debt $1.1m. Hop stands at $69.2m.