Summit International's sci-fi thriller Knowing finished the weekend as the biggest overseas Hollywood release in play as it launched in nine markets and grossed an estimated $9.8m including previews from 1,711 sites in ten markets.

The film opened at number one in the UK on $3.6m from 390 sites including previews and scored a number one debut in Australia on $1.4m from 192. Mexico wasabout $745,000 in second place at the local box office. The overall international running total for Knowing stands at $14.5m.

Gran Torino delivered another strong weekend for Warner Bros Pictures International as $8.4m from almost 2,800 screens in 45 markets boosted the tally to $73.7m. The drama debuted in Mexico on $287,000 from 200 screens but the highlights came from several robust holds.

Clint Eastwood's film added $2.1m from 480 screens in its fifth weekend in France, where it has amassed $21.1m. It held on to the top spot in its third weekend in Italy as $1.6m from 349 raised the tally to $7.3m, and added $1.5m from 264 in the fourth weekend in Spain for $10.1m.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button consolidated its $200m international status as $927,000 from 1,862 screens in 51 markets put the drama on $201.3m.

Sony Pictures Releasing International's comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop enjoyed a strong outing and produced three number one launches as $8m from 1,610 screens in 14 markets boosted the early running total to $14.3m.

The film opened top in Germany on $4.2m from 501, Austria on $805,000 from 77, and German-speaking Switzerland on $375,000 from 29. The UK led holdover business on $1.5m from 376 to rank fourth on $4.9m after two weekends, while Australia produced $685,000 from 196 for second place and a $1.9m running total. Latest figures put Mexico on $1.6m.

Banking thriller The International added $1.4m from 960 screens in 39 territories for a lackluster $22.5m running total. The film opened in second place in Argentina on $90,000 from 30 and opened in Poland on $90,000 from 60.

Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans added $1.3m from 1,025 in 35 markets and has reached $39.8m. The action fantasy was the number one release in Venezuela on $180,000 from 30 screens, more than doubling the launch of Underworld: Evolution, and opened in second place in Hong Kong on $245,000 from 32 screns. The Pink Panther 2 stands at $34.1m.

Left Bank Pictures, BBC Films and Screen Yorkshire's football drama The Damned United launched in sixth place in the UK through Sony Pictures Releasing International on $845,000.

Universal/Relativity Media's crime caper Duplicity grossed $6.9m from 1,809 sites in 19 territories through Universal Pictures International for an early total of $12.7m. It opened in eight territories including a $2.5m number three launch in France in 380 venues. There was a decent $1m debut in Russia from 251 sites, a $300,000 number one opening in Belgium from 36 and a $210,000 number one launch in Portugal from 54.

Duplicity is holding well in Australia, where it ranks third after $650,000 from 198 venues raised the tally after two weekends to $2.1m. It ranks sixth in the UK where $850,000 from 354 boosted the score to $2.8m after two weekends, and ranks fourth in Spain after the same amount of time and has amassed $2.3m. There are 45 territories to go over the next three months.

Horror title The Unborn added $1.8m from 1,541 sites in 35 territories for $26.4m and opened in eight territories this weekend including a solid $150,000 launch in the Netherlands from 25 screens. Clint Eastwood's other drama in play, Changeling, stands at $76.2m and has taken $12.8m after six weekends in Japan.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International's Bedtime Stories became Adam Sandler's biggest overseas hit as the comedy added $1.7m from 1,201 theatres in 21 territories to reach $104.7m.

Confessions Of A Shopaholic grossed $4.9m from 2,017 theatres in 31 territories to raise the tally to $44.7m. The romantic comedy opened in Spain on $800,000 from 215 screens and South Korea on $765,000 from 105 and scored an excellent $345,000 debut in Singapore on 50 screens. After three weekends in Australia the running total has reached $4.5m.

Race To Witch Mountain added $2.6m from 1,026 theatres in 14 territories for $6.3m. The family release launched in Russia on $1.1m from 205 and Mexico on $650,000 from 350 screens.

Turning to the canine stars, the animated romp Bolt stands at $178.7m and Beverly Hills Chihuahua has grossed $48.3m. Teen release Hotel For Dogs added $1.4m from 1,575 locations in 47 locations for $39.1m. And Fox International's Marley & Me grossed $7.9m for $72.7m and launched in six markets including Japan where it pulled in $1.9m from 438 screens to rank fourth. The comedy added $2.5m from 487 in the UK to rank second after three weekends and raise the tally there to $15.6m.

Now in its second weekend overseas, DreamWorks Animations' Monsters Vs Aliens added $4.6m through Paramount Pictures International from 830 locations in eight territories to raise the early international running total to $13m.

The 3D animation held strongly in its largest current market, Russia, where $3.8m from 571 sites after a 35% drop raised the tally to $11.8m. Elsewhere, there were openings in six territories, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Israel, and the Philippines.

Watchmen added $4.6m from 3,727 venues in 60 territories for $68m and has crossed $170m worldwide. The biggest contribution came from the $1.2m launch in Japan from 218 sites. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa remained the number one release in its third weekend in Japan where $1.2m from 304 sites raised the running total to $6.5m. The international cumulative total stands at $411.2m.

Action fantasy Dragonball: Evolution scored a record opening in Indonesia where it was Fox's biggest opening weekend ever and the industry's fourth highest on $785,134 from 90 screens. Overall the film took $2.1m from nine territories for $21.4m.

The comedy Bride Wars opened at number one in Holland on $407,000 from 91 sites and has grossed nearly $54m overseas. The action release 12 Rounds opened in six small markets day-and-date with North America on $627,000 and has taken $957,000 so far.