Fox International’s animation juggernaut shows no sign of slowing up as the latest episode inspired a mighty launch despite opening on a smaller initial footprint than its predecessor. Sony’s Spidey reboot also debuted strongly in a relatively limited first wave.

Blue Sky Studios’ Ice Age: Continental Drift amassed $78.1m from 9,505 screens in 34 territories, arriving top of the table in each and posting a number one launch in the UK from previews ahead of the Jul 13 debut there. Roughly 4,200 screens were 3D.

This equates to roughly half the screen and market count of the day-and-date release of Ice Age 3 in July 2009. That behemoth went on to gross $694m internationally.

Fox International registered its biggest opening weekends in Mexico on $13.8m from 2,516 for 72% market share – the result also ranked as the third biggest industry debut – and Brazil on $6.9m from 1,010. France generated $11.8m from 1,072 to usurp The Avengers in the biggest launch of the year-to-date.

The film delivered $6.4m from 580 in Australia and set the industry’s biggest opening weekend in history in Argentina as $4.1m from 284 claimed 61% market share. Continental Drift ran riot in Latin America and in other all-time industry marks it grossed $3.2m from 296 in Colombia, $3.1m from 252 in Peru, $2.1m from 252 in Central America and $2m from 135 in Chile.

In a slew of all-time industry animated records the film scored $2.5m from 250 in Norway, $2m from 201 in Sweden for 54% market share, $830,104 from 89 in Ecuador and $346,038 from 23 in Bolivia.

Elsewhere Continental Drift opened in Spain on $4.1m from 829 and 45% market share despite the distraction of the national team’s participation in Sunday’s (Jul 1) Euro 2012 final against Italy, $1.4m from 407 in Turkey and $1.3m from 72 in the UAE.

The film is set to arrive in 14 further markets this week including Germany and Holland, followed by an additional wave of 16 markets day-and-date with North America including the UK and Russia. South Korea and India follow on Jul 26 and Jul 27 and Italy is set for Sept 28.

Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier directed Ice Age: Continental Drift from a screenplay by Michael Berg and Jason Fuchs. Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo lead the voice cast.

Fox International’s Prometheus added $6.2m from 4,592 screens in 58 markets as the running total climbed to $166.5m with Germany, Japan, Spain and Italy awaiting release. The UK has generated $36.1m after five weekends, Russia $22.1m after five, Australia $16.8m after four and France $16.5m after five.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter added $5m from 2,742 in 21 for an early $17.5m and sank its teeth into six new markets. Russia stands at $8.4m after two weekends. This Means War has reached $102.2m.

  • Sony Pictures Releasing International reported that Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man grossed approximately $50.2m from 13 markets in the first wave of webbed wonder as the Jul 3 North American launch approaches.

The webslinger – now played by British rising star Andrew Garfield opposite Emma Stone as love interest Gwen Stacy – largely avoided Europe while the Euro 2012 continues to play out. He fared best in South Korea and grossed $13.4m from 1,213 screens for 71% market share and the third biggest launch for a Hollywood film in the Thursday-Sunday time frame on KRW15.8bn. The result came in 24% higher than the Spider-Man 3 debut over the same period.

The Amazing Spider-Man arrived in Japan on $11.4m from 1,092 for 84% of weekend box office and opened on a terrific $6m from 1,236 for the biggest ever debut of a Hollywood title in India, where it exceeded the Spider-Man 3 debut by 74%, The Avengers by 73% and doubled the lifetime gross of The Dark Knight.

The Philippines produced $3.2m from 529 for the fourth biggest Friday-Sunday debut in history. Taiwan generated $2.9m from 268, Hong Kong $2.7m from 158 for the fourth biggest Friday-Sunday session ever, Singapore $2.5m from 128 for the third biggest Friday-Sunday launch, Thailand $1.9m from 320 and Vietnam $425,000 from 41.

Germany led the limited European launch pattern on $4.2m from 755 and 50% market share while Holland generated $850,000 from 113, Austria $480,000 from 85 and Switzerland $290,000 from 130.

MIB 3 added $6.4m from 4,355 in 80 markets to reach $429.8m and has grossed $37.6m in the lead market of Japan after six weekends and $32.8m in the UK after the same time scale.

  • DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3 drew a further $16.2m through Paramount Pictures International from 7,011 cinemas in 44 countries in its fourth weekend to bring the tally to $244.2m.

It added $1.9m in Russia from 600 cinemas for a dazzling $46m and a further $1.1m from 552 venues in Mexico for $23.5m. France generated $1.6m from 748 cinemas for $21m. Brazil is a big family market, nonetheless PPI will be thrilled with the $26.3m running total. Argentina stands at an excellent $13.5m.

After seven weeks in release The Dictator has reached $89m and France stands at $4m after two sessions. The comedy stayed top for the third consecutive weekend in Italy, where all eyes will be on the Euro 2012 final on Sunday night. The running total there is $2.3m.

  • Universal Pictures International previewed this weekend’s record breaking number one North American release Ted in Australia and reported an excellent $2.8m ahead of the official Jul 5 launch. The R-rated comedy will arrive across the world in the coming months.

Snow White And The Huntsman grossed a further $14.5m from 6,000 sites in 60 territories for a terrific $189m running total. The Five-Year Engagement stands $12.7m and American Pie: Reunion has reached $176.4m. Cannes International Film festival opener Moonrise Kingdom, which Universal distributes in the UK, New Zealand and Latin America, has taken $2.6m from the UK so far and just passed The Life Aquatic and became Wes Anderson’s third highest grossing film there.

  • Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International reported that Pixar’s Brave grossed $6.7m from 11 territories for an early $26.8m as part of the typical staggered release for Pixar titles. The Avengers brought in $1.1m for $841.1m.
  • Dark Shadows brought in $4.2m through Warner Bros Pictures International from 2,500 screens in 48 markets for $151.6m. Rock Of Ages stands at $11.6m. Tengo Ganas De Ti added $1.5m in Spain in the second weekend for $8.3m. Wanrer Bros Pictures presents a Zeta Cinema, Antena 3, Charanga and Estudios Hackenbush production.

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