Indian films came up blazing in this weekend's international top 40 with two films - Om Shanti Om and Saawariya - together taking $31.5m and accounting for more than 20% of the chart's total revenue.
Eros International's Om Shanti Om was the highest earner over the three-day period, taking $18.2m in its first weekend and stealing the number one from last week's biggest international film, Ratatouille, which had enjoyed a five-week run at the top. The Indian romance played across 1,048 screens in 17 territories for a massive $17,342 screen average - the highest of the weekend. It stars Bollywood sensation Shah Rukh Khan and is directed by Farah Khan.
Sony Pictures Releasing International's first Indian production Saawariya opened at number two at the weekend with a $13.3m take from 899 screens. The romantic drama boasted this weekend's second highest screen average at $14,848 per screen. It took more than $12m in India and $334,897 in the UK. Both films were released in time for the Hindu holiday, Diwali.
Fox International's Lions For Lambs was the third new entry to make the top 10 at the weekend, coming in at number three. The political thriller enjoyed a $10.3m take from 2,675 screens in 44 territories for a $3,865 screen average. It is the seventh feature directed by Robert Redford, who also stars in the film alongside Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep.
Italy's new offering, Come Tu Mi Vuoi, entered within the top 20 this weekend, generating $3.5m in its home territory putting it at number 17. The comedy, released through Medusa Film, played across 347 screens and boasted the sixth highest screen average at $10,233. It is written and directed by Volfango De Biasi and stars young actress Cristiana Capotondi, who also stars in another current Italian top 10 hit I Vicere.
Japanese films continue to make their mark in the international arena - four generated $11.5m accounting for 7.4% of the total revenue of the top 40. Toho's Sky Of Love (KoiZora) crept up one place to number 12, despite falling by a modest 7%. The romantic drama generated $4m from 287 screens in its home territory and stole the top slot in the Japanese chart. It boasted a $13,941 screen average in its second weekend and has generated $11.8m to date.
Toho's Always - Sunset On Third Street 2 trailed a mere $198 behind Sky Of Love this weekend, also enjoying a $4m take from 382 screens. The ensemble drama fell 19% to number 13 in its second weekend and had a $10,474 screen average. It has a $13.6m tally to date. And a third Toho offering, Crows: Episode 0, fell 23% in its third weekend with a $1.9m take from 259 screens for a $13.6m running total.
Toei Animation's Yes! Pretty Cure 5 entered at number 32, generating more than $1.5m from 137 screens in its first weekend. The children's adventure, based on a series of animated TV programmes about the Pretty Cure girls, boasted an $11,446 screen average.
Animated films saw more success over the weekend. German hit Lissi Und Der Wilde Kaiser, the family film distributed through Constantin, just made the top 20 with a $2.9m take from 900 screens. It fell by 48% over the weekend and has a $19.3m tally after just three weekends.
Germany's new entry The Three Investigators And The Secret Of Skeleton Island passed the $2m mark in its first weekend. The family adventure, based on the novel by Robert Arthur, took $2.1m from 675 screens across three territories, of which $1.2m was taken from 540 screens in Germany. It is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.
And British films continue to fare well in the international chart with four films generating more than $13m and accounting for 8.5% of the top 40 revenue. Two Working Title productions - Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Atonement were in the top 30. Elizabeth fell 17% with a $3.9m weekend take from 966 screens, while Atonement was up a whopping 202% after opening in Germany. The film, starring Keira Knightley, re-entered the chart with a $1.7m take from 459 screens. Both films are released through Universal Pictures International (UPI) in conjunction with UIP.
Paramount Pictures International/UIP's Stardust was at number six with a $5.8m take while Kimmel International's Death At A Funeral generated $1.7m across 655 screens.
Elsewhere, Ang Lee's Lust, Caution was up 13% and re-entered the top 10 after a $1.5m opening weekend in South Korea. The espionage drama took $4.9m over the three-day period from 12 territories. And Lionsgate's Good Luck Chuck shot up 271% with a $3.5m take after opening in the UK and Germany.
The top 40 international films generated $156.5m from 37,325 screens for the period November 9-11.
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