Fast 6 faces Hangover 3 int'l clash

The latter scored the biggest global launch in Universal’s 101-year history last weekend when it grossed more than $314m and crossed $161m internationally in the space of several days. It currently stands at $259.4m.

Strong holds are expected for the action thriller and Universal executives expect it to soar past the $300 international mark. The new release markets are New Zealand and Trinidad. Universal Pictures International also releases genre title The Purge in the UK, one week ahead of North America.

Warner Bros Pictures International top brass are bullish about The Hangover Part III after it raced to $19.2m from debuts in the UK, Australia and New Zealand last weekend.

The comedy trilogy finale is set to arrive in France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Brazil and Taiwan. It opens in all of Europe and Eastern Europe, most of Asia and approximately half of Latin America.

Meanwhile The Great Gatsby continues to perform strongly and stood at $96.2m outside North America through the end of Wednesday [29]. The Cannes opener touches down this weekend in Australia, Mexico and a several other Latin American territories.

Fox International’s animation Epic goes out in around 25 territories and stood at $58.6m as of Thursday. New markets include the UK, France and Italy, while Everybody Has A Plan arrives in Germany. DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods stands at $385.9m.

Paramount Pictures International’s Star Trek Into Darkness arrives in China where it is expected to make a big splash and propel the international running total of more than $102.1m towards the $150m mark. The sci-fi sequel also opens in South Korea and Poland.

Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) opens the Will Smith-Jaden Smith sci-fi After Earth in South Korea day-and-date with North America.

Evil Dead is a split-rights deal with SPRI and Lionsgate and stands at $38.7m internationally and $92.8m worldwide.