New Moon holds on to overseas crown with $23.2m haul

The international running total thus far stands at an exceptional $360.1m, which is almost as much as Twilight’s worldwide gross. Factoring in the $267.4m North American gross, New Moon’s global tally has reached $627.5m.

The vampire saga has grossed $41.5m in the UK, $34.9m in France, $30.4m in Germany, $30.3m in Australia, $28.4m in Spain, $22.6m in Brazil, $17.9m in Russia, $16.9m in Mexico, and $2.5m in Japan. China is yet to receive the film.

As IM Global awaited results for Paranormal Activity, Sony Pictures Releasing International’s smash 2012 ranked second overall after adding a further $20m from 8,540 in 77 markets, elevating the running total to a formidable $556m.

Highlights included: $2.1m in Japan from 609 for $30.7m after four weekends; $1.6m in South Korea from 266 for $32m after five; $1.5m in France from 526 for $42.1m after five; $1.5m in Germany from 637 for $35m after five; and $1.4m in Brazil from 532 for $21.6m after five. China remains the biggest territory for the film with an extraordinary $65.4m running total. The UK has generated $30.7m, Australia $16.9m, Spain $21.5m, and Mexico $17.9m. All results mentioned here except Japan are after five weekends.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs added $2.2m from 1,190 in 30 for $72.1m and Zombieland grossed $2.2m from 717 in 31 for $17.7m. The Stepfather launched in Mexico and the UK on $100,000 from 151 screens and $65,000 from 92, respectively. Armored opened in Spain on $45,500 from 140.

• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s A Christmas Carol grossed $14.8m weekend result from 5,298 screens in 50 territories that raised the total to $146.8m.

Disney sources said the result makes A Christmas Carol the most popular Christmas release ever. The film stayed top in Italy for the second straight weekend on $3.7m from 466 sites for $13.3m and led the UK charts in its sixth weekend as $2.5m from 626 screens boosted the score to $26.4m. France and Russia produced $1.4m from 512 for $8.8m and $1m from 257 for $11.4m, respectively.

The Princess And The Frog, the number one release in North America this weekend, launched in ten day-and-date territories on a very promising $7m from 1,486 screens. Key drivers were: Germany on $2.8m for second place; Mexico on $1.5m from 425 and first place; and Venezuela on a mighty $700,000 from 58 for first place.

Up finally crossed $400m as a number one hold in the second weekend in Japan and a further $5.6m from 663 screens pushed the tally there to $16m and the international running total to $401.4m. This positions Up as the third biggest Pixar release and only the fifth title this calendar year to cross $400m overseas.

Old Dogs added $3.5m from 1,142 in six territories for $12.8m and according to WDSMPI ranked number one in Russia for the second straight weekend on $1.6m from 288 for $4.1m. The second weekend in Spain drew $1.1m from 318 for $3.6m and Mexico has generated $3m after three. G-Force added $1m from 810 in 14 territories for $165.6m.

• Warner Bros Pictures International’s German title Zweiohrkuken added $6.9m from 905 screens to raise the tally to an excellent $19.1m.

Meanwhile Ninja Assassin grossed $3.1m from roughly 1,350 screens in 20 territories for an early $17.3m international running total.  It opened in Germany on $409,000 including previews from 156 screens. South Korea and Russia have generated $7.1m after three weekends and $1.2m after two, respectively.

Invictus opened in South Africa on a solid $192,000 from 73 screens nationwide, marking the largest opening for a Clint Eastwood in South Africa. 

• Universal/UPI’s Public Enemies opened in fourth place in its final market of Japan on $850,000 from 325 sites. Overall $1.9m raised the international running total to $110.9m.

Couples Retreat added $1.8m from 770 in 36 for $45.7m, while The Invention Of Lying stands at $13m from six Universal markets and Inglourious Basterds has amassed $197.6m. A Serious Man stands at $5m from select Universal markets and Broken Embraces has reached $32m through all distributors and added $200,000 in Brazil from 70 venues for $707,000 after two weekends.

• Fox International staff are only thinking of one thing these days, however before Avatar launches this week there was other business to report. Jennifer’s Bodyopened in Italy on $370,000 from 170 screens and has amassed $16.5m internationally. Fox International Production’s debut release Spanish Movie stayed to in its second weekend in Spain as $1.5m from 400 boosted the running total to $7m.
  
  
• Paramount/PPI reported that in its third weekend in the UK Law Abiding Citizen added $1m from 361 sites for $7.8m. Meanwhile Celda 211 added $770,000 from 219 locations in Spain for an $11.2m tally.