Real Steel retains international box office crown on $24m

Real Steel stands at $109.2m worldwide and grossed $4.3m in Russia for $14.2m, $2.5m in Mexico for $6.9m and $2.4m in Australia for $7.6m. It opened in the UK on a so-so $2.2m.

The Lion King added $5.2m for $37.5m and stands at $9.4m in the UK after two weekends and $4.5m in Australia after four. DreamWorks US smash The Help is on an early $10.7m outside North America and it will be intriguing to see if it can replicate its excellent domestic performance internationally.

• 3D adventure The Three Musketeers expanded wide to plunder $20.4m through Summit International licensees from roughly 5,100 screens in 40 markets for $49m.

The standout market for The Three Musketeers, directed by Paul W Anderson and starring Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich and Christoph Waltz, was Brazil, where it was expected to open at number one on $3.3m including $1m in previews from 303 sites.

The adventure grossed an adequate $2.4m including previews in the UK from 487 in what was expected to rank number three or four. In Italy it opened on $2m from 363 and was tied in a race for number one with Paolo Sorrentino’s This Must Be The Place.

• Universal’s rising comedy hit Johnny English Reborn is bearing down on $100m following a confirmed $17.1m haul from 3,829 sites in 43 territories through UPI that boosted the international running total to $85.1m. It should cross $100m by the end of next weekend.

With 20 territories to go (including next weekend debuts for France through StudioCanal and Mexico) the film looks good to surpass the $133m final tally of its 2003 predecessor Johnny English when all is said and done.

Audiences continued to respond to the spy spoof antics of Rowan Atkinson and rewarded the film with nine number one launches, producing opening records for its star in Finland, Lebanon, and the UAE.

In the UK the comedy fended off newbies The Three Musketeers and Real Steel to retain pole position in the second weekend with 29% market share as a terrific $5m from 525 raised the tally to $15.3m. The film also held on to number one in Germany on $2.6m from 678 for $7.1m after two.

The Change-Up added $3.3m in 1,300 venues in 28 territories for an early international total of $24.2m. The comedy arrived in third place in Germany on $2m from 385 and stands at $1.2m in Brazil after two weekends. There are 18 territories to go.

Universal licensed horror prequel The Thing from Morgan Creek in 28 territories and started with five this weekend for a $1.5m take. Star Joel Edgerton’s native Australia produced $590,000 from 127 for a number seven debut, while France delivered tenth place on $550,000 from 145. Results from Morgan Creek’s other territories this weekend were not available.

Fast And Furious Five added $1.1m in its third weekend in Japan from 327 as the running total roared to $14.8m and the international tally reached $414.5m. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s thriller The Intruders plundered a further $680,000 from 340 in the second weekend in Spain where it ranks number four on $3m. Universal holds all international rights and will begin the roll-out proper in 2012.

Comedy smash Bridesmaids has reached $118.2m while the romance One Day stands at $15m from 15 Universal territories and opened well in Spain on $409,000 from a limited pattern in 177 sites. The overall international running total has reached $26.3m. The Debt is at $11.1m from 11 territories.

Finally The Phantom Of The Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, Universal’s first international alternative content release, opened in  Australia and the Philippines on an impressive $350,000 from 88 in tenth place and $20,000 from 13. The haul from 11 territories is $1.8m and Universal is scheduled to present the special event in Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand at later dates this year. The video will be released on DVD through Universal Pictures International Entertainment.  

• Thriller Abduction grossed $6.1m through Lionsgate licensees, pushing the running total to $39.6m. It opened in Germany at number four on $1.1m and launched in Spain in third place on roughly the same amount.
• The Smurfs grossed a confirmed $5.1m from 3,849 screens in 68 markets through Sony Pictures Releasing International to reach $401.1m. The only new market was Thailand, where the family film opened in second place on $243,091 on 60. Australia produced the biggest holdover, adding $687,476 on 411 in the fifth weekend for $20.6m. The Smurfs have amassed $33.1m in Brazil, $28m in Germany and $27.1m in France, both after 11, and $27.2m in the UK after 10.

Rom-com Friends With Benefits stands at $84.3m following a $4.3m haul from 2,273 in 59 markets. A $1.4m fourth-place debut in Italy on 253 drove the session and there was also a launch in Hong Kong on $130,920 from 32. Germany has generated $10.4m after six weekends and Spain $5.1m after four.

The drama Moneyball starring Brad Pitt began its run outside North America, launching in Mexico at number three on $427,128 from 201. Zookeeper has reached $86.9m.

• Fox International reported that Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes added a confirmed $4.5m from 1,342 in 14 for $257.8m, buoyed by a $3.8m number one hold in Japan on 628 for $17.2m after two weekends.

Anna Faris rom-com What’s Your Number grossed $2.9m from 1,455 in 33 markets for $10.2m and opened at number three in Australia on $854,819 on 204 and launched in Brazil on $285,174 on 70. Fox International Productions’ German hit What A Man stands at $16.9m in Germany after eight weekends.

• Contagion brought in a confirmed $3.9m through Warner Bros Pictures International from approximately 1,100 screens in 17 markets as the early tally reached $11.9m. The thriller opened at number one in Spain on $1.5m from 325.

Oscar hopeful The Artist opened top in France on an excellent $3.1m from 295.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. added $2.8m from 1,360 in 42 for $58.1m and added $1.2m in Australia from 314 for $8.3m. The UK hs generated $4.9m and Mexico $5.2m. New Line’s Final Destination 5 stands at $115.3m.

• Paramount Pictures International’s Footloose grossed a confirmed $1.7m from 785 sites in seven reporting markets this weekend as the dance film remake began its run outside North America day-and-date with the film’s number two domestic launch. Leading the way was the UK on $750,000 from 380.

Captain America: The First Avenger added $1.6m in Japan from 249 and overall the superhero adaptation stands at $189.4m. Cowboys And Aliens from DreamWorks has amassed $68.2m from 58 territories.

• Latest figures from StudioCanal for its UK releases put Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on $19.6m after five weekends, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark on $1.8m after two and Tyrannosaur on $277,000 after two.