French films accounted for nearly a quarter of the international top 40 revenue this weekend, spearheaded by a whopping $32.5m opening from top film Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis.

The top 40 films generated $188.5m from 45,384 screens for the period of February 29-March 2.

For the full international chart, compiled by Len Klady, click here.

Ch'Tis, released through Pathe, played on 838 screens and boasted the highest screen average of the year so far at a mammoth $38,816 per screen.

The comedy scored the all-time best opening week and weekend in the country, beating out Les Bronzes 3: Amis Pour La Vie in 2006, and reported 3,586,497 admissions over the three-day period. The film is the second feature from local comedian Dany Boon - he also wrote and directed 2006's La Maison Du Bonheur, which took a more modest $8.4m in the territory. Ch'Tis has generated $37.4m from three territories, including previews.

Pathe enjoyed another top 10 hit with holdover title Asterix At The Olympic Gameswhich took $6.4m from 3,039 screens for a $2,097 screen average. The family film was at number seven and fell by 37% in its sixth weekend. It has generated a robust $118.6m to date.

Meanwhile, Studio Canal's romantic comedy Paris dropped 45% in its second weekend with a near $3m take. The film, starring Juliette Binoche, played on 515 screens in three territories for a $5,738 screen average. It has generated $9.9m to date.

New entry Taken made the top 30 this weekend with a $2.2m take on 350 screens in France. The thriller, starring Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace and directed by Pierre Morel, enjoyed a solid $6,161 screen average. It is distributed by Europa.

Two Korean titles generated $6.7m at the weekend. Showbox's thriller The Chaser continues its strong box office stride falling just 8% at the weekend with a $4.4m take. The film played on 459 screens in its home territory for a $9,651 screen average and came in at number 15 on the chart. It has grossed nearly $20m after three weekends on release.

CJ Entertainment's new entry Babo opened with a $2.3m take from just 268 screens at the weekend for a $8,431 screen average. The drama, directed by Kim Jung-kwon, has taken nearly $2.7m to date in its home territory, including previews.

UK-Australia co-productionThe Bank Job opened into the top 30 at the weekend, generating $1.9m from 324 screens for a $5,824 screen average. The action thriller catapulted to number one in the UK, beating out rival new entrants Semi-Pro and The Accidental Husband, which took $1.5m and $1.4m respectively in the territory. The Bank Job stars Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows and is directed by Roger Donaldson (The Recruit). It is released through Lionsgate.

Last weekend's surprise big-hitter Recep Ividek fell 20% over the three-day period. The Turkish comedy generated $4.3m from just 233 screens in its home territory for a massive $18,411 screen average - the second highest of the weekend. It has taken $13.6m after two weekends on release and is distributed through Ozen Film.

Indian sensation Jodhaa Akbar is fast closing in on the $20m mark. The love story, distributed through UTV Communications fell 55% over the weekend with a $1.9m take. It played across 658 screens in 11 territories for a $2,855 screen average.

Japan's new entry One Piece 9 enjoyed a $1.5m take from 293 screens in its home territory for a $5,374 screen average. The animation, distributed through Toei, came in at number three in the Japanese chart, beaten by opener The Golden Compass and holdover title L: Change The World.

L, distributed through Warner Bros, fell 34% over the weekend and came in at number 22 internationally with a $2.8m take. The thriller played on 607 screens for a $4,627 screen average. It has generated $29.2m after four weekends on release.

Elsewhere, Fox's Meet The Spartans was up a massive 550% after expanding to Germany, Australia, Hong Kong and Mexico with a near $8m weekend take while Sony's thriller Vantage Point saw a similar boost after expanding in 17 territories with an $11.7m weekend take.

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