WBPI banks on Sex appeal as World Cup kicks off

Warner Bros Pictures International (WBPI) top brass know that as the football tournament kicks off in South Africa today [11] few films boast the ample counter-programming credentials of this all-girl comedy sequel.

Sex And The City 2 added $6.6m on Wednesday from 50 territories to bring the cumulative tally to $105.7m Latest figures put the UK on $22.2m, Germany on $15.9m, Australia on $9.9m, and Italy on $5.9m. It opens this weekend in South Korea.

Fox International will be seeking to defy the World Cup with a wide launch for its 1980s television remake The A-Team.

This is a bold move considering that a large part of the film’s audience will also be anxious to follow their teams in the first round of the tournament.

The action film launches in approximately 35 territories and the major markets in the mix are Australia, Brazil, Mexico and South Korea – all of whom are in World Cup action this weekend – as well as Russia and Taiwan.

Family title Marmaduke enters its second weekend on more than $5m and scampers into a smattering of markets including World Cup hosts South Africa.

Fox’s Bollywood production My Name Is Khan has amassed $34.7m so far and launches in Germany, while the family film Tooth Fairy is winding down on $51.1m and arrives in Italy and France.

The drama Crazy Heart stands at $6.6m and opens in Japan, and the latest figure for Avatar’s international running total is an out-of-this-world $1.985bn.

Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time has amassed $168.9m after grossing $12m in the week through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International and lands in Thailand this weekend.

Alice In Wonderland has grossed a staggering $680.8m and has a shot at overtaking Fox International’s Ice Age 3 on $688.2m to become the fourth biggest overseas release in history.

Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang touches down through Universal/UPI this weekend in eight territories, among them Singapore and Denmark on June 10, followed a day later by Sweden. The family sequel stands at $52.9m.

Robin Hood has earned $175.7m and ventures into China and India on June 11, while Greenberg arrives in the UK. Kick-Ass opens in Argentina on June 10.

Paramount/PPI launches Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 2 in Japan on June 11 and the film has grossed $280.4m, way more than the predecessor’s $214.2m.

Shrek Forever After has grossed $69.8m so far and the romantic comedy She’s Out Of My League $12.5m opens in Taiwan on June 12.

Sony Pictures Releasing International launches its remake The Karate Kid day-and-date with North America in a handful of territories, the most significant of which will be South Korea.

The film is scheduled to open around the world throughout the summer. European footballing nations like Spain, the UK, Italy, France and Germany open after the conclusion of the World Cup on July 11.

Summit International’s Letters To Juliet opens in the UK and South Africa, among others, and should offer a welcome slice of counter-programming for audiences who crave something other than football.