Just as there are big changes afoot at Paramount Pictures International (PPI), everyone at the distributor can expect bumpy weather at the box office as reigning champion Paranormal Activity 3 enters the second weekend.

In the week when it emerged that PPI president Andrew Cripps has declined to relocate from London to Los Angeles in the wake of corporate restructuring, top brass will look to build on the third instalment’s early $35.5m running total.

However the chances of Paranormal Activity 3 holding on to pole position are slim. This weekend marks the first wave for Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s family adventure The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn, which opens through PPI in the UK and through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Holland and creator Herge’s native Belgium.

Then there is the threat posed by Fox International’s sci-fi thriller In Time, the Justin Timberlake-Amanda Seyfried coupling which arrives day-and-date with North America in 35 markets, among them Australia, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Universal / UPI’s Johnny English Reborn continues to perform excellently and stands at $110.3m with Italy and Brazil ready to receive the comedy this weekend.

Fox’s Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes has amassed $266.6m and should get a big push when it touches down in China this weekend.

PPI launches DreamWorks Animation’s Puss In Boots day-and-date with North America in the high piracy markets of Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines. The same distributor is also in action with Footloose. The dance remake on an early $6.9m arrives in 10 markets, among them Mexico and Singapore. Eva opens in Spain.

SPRI opens Anonymous in the UK, releases Friends With Benefits in South Korea and unleashes 30 Minutes Or Less in Mexico and South Africa.

Latest figures from Warner Bros Pictures International put Contagion on $27m with launches set for Brazil and Mexico. Crazy, Stupid, Love. has grossed $61m.

Summit International reports a $68.9m running total for The Three Musketeers and the 3D adventure should have little trouble coasting past $75m with debuts set for Japan, Mexico, Argentina and Taiwan, among several others.

Japanese buyers have been returning to the international market in the last year or so and local audiences will also get the chance this weekend to see Source Code and Fair Game. Larry Crowne opens in Italy and The Tree Of Life debuts in South Korea.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s The Help gets a big test this weekend when it opens in the UK, France and Spain and the DreamWorks drama currently stands at $12.4m.

Real Steel from DreamWorks stands at $94.7m and should cross $100m, while stablemate Fright Night has grossed $23.6m. The Lion King re-release has amassed $48.1m.

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