Guardians edges out Twilight to rule international on $26m

The film took $3m from 665 in its second weekend in France where the early tally climbed to $8.4m and finished top in the UK on $2.6m from 495 for $6.5m after two. Guardians ranked top in Italy where $2.5m from the second weekend raised the score to $5.9m.

Elsewhere Guardians held top in Mexico on $2.2m from 575 theatres for $6.5m after two and brought in $2.1m from 400 in Brazil for $6.3m after two It grossed $1.8m from 553 in South Korea for $4.9m, $1.7m in Russia from 700 for $13.2m after three and $1.7m in Spain from 540 for $4m after two. Germany has generated $2.9m after two.

• The dazzling early start for Life Of Pi continued as it sailed past $100m in its third weekend of release through Fox International.

The fantasy adventure added $23.8m from 5,612 screens in 11 markets to reach $105.7m. China led the way with a $14.6m number one hold from 4,000 to boost the tally to $68.3m after three, followed by Spain on a $2.4m table-topper from 662 for $6.4m after two.

Pi also stayed top in its third weekend in Taiwan on $2.3m from 105 for $9.7m and it ranks as the number one Hollywood release in India, where a $1.3m from 350 boosted the score to $10.4m after three. The film ranks as the third biggest release of the year-to-date in the sub-continent behind The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man.

• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is nearing the $500m mark through Summit/Lionsgate International as  $23.5m boosted the running total to $482.4m. Already the biggest in the franchise at the international box office, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 has now become the worldwide champion too on $751.1m.
• Sony, MGM and Eon’s Skyfall – now Sony’s highest global grosser on $918m and counting (see separate story) – added $20.3m through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) from 6,235 screens in 84 markets to reach $656.6m.

James Bond stayed top in its third weekend in Australia thanks to a $4.8m haul from 574 that propelled the running total to $33.5m. 007 ruled Japan in the second weekend on $3.3m from 578 for $13.2m and brought in $2.4m in Germany from 1,049 for $74.7m after six weekends.

There was more good work in the UK as Skyfall generated $2.3m from 805 to reach $154.5m. The film overtook Avatar last week to rank as the biggest release in UK box office history. France has produced $56.5m after seven and Holland, where the thriller has ruled the charts for the entire six weeks of its run, has generated $19.1m.

SPRI markets accounted for $18.8m of the weekend business to boost the company’s gross to $571.1m, while MGM markets brought in $1.6m for $85.5m.

Hotel Transylvania grossed a further $3.6m through SPRI from 2,940 in 61 for $157.8m. The animation has been a big hit in Spain where it has generated $14m after seven weekends. Venezuela has produced $1.9m after two.

• Wreck-It Ralph has crossed $50m in relatively early stages through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International as $5.8m from 26 territories boosted the score to $51.1m. The global running total stands at $215.5m.
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) reported that Pitch Perfect brought in $3.9m from 460 sites in nine territories for $8.8m, buoyed by a strong number two launch in Australia on $3.6m from 240.

Anna Karenina grossed $2.6m from 740 in 16 for $14.3m and opened in France and Germany, among others, although UPI did not report the numbers. There are 36 territories to go.

The Gerard Butler-Jessica Biel rom-com Playing For Keeps opened day-and-date with North America in Russia in second place on $2m from 552. Nu Image handled the bulk of international sales and FilmDistrict distributes in North America.

Moonrise Kingdom stands at $6.2m through UPI and #20m overall. The Man With The Iron Fists has grossed an early $2.4m and opened in the UK on $80,000 from 100 theatres. Ted stands at $283.1m internationally and $501.8m worldwide.

• Warner Bros Pictures International did not report over the weekend.