Middle Earth keeps international arena under spell

New Line/MGM/Warner Bros’ fantasy adventure combines with the $222.7m North American gross for a $687m global running total.

Several results punctuated the session including an outstanding $18.6m (A$18m) number one debut in Australia on 560 screens.

In its third weekend The Hobbit produced $16.7m (€12.6m) in Germany for $60m ($45.8m); $10.9m (£6.7m) in the UK for $57.7m (£35.8m) and $8.6m (€6.6m) in France for $31.2m (€23.8m).

The Middle Earth saga delivered $5.6m in Russia for $27m after two weekends. After three The Hobbit stands at $22.4m in Spain, $19.5m in South Korea, $17.9m in Italy, $15.1m in Mexico, $14.8m in Sweden through MGM and $13.4m in Brazil.

• UPDATE: Fox International confirmed on Monday [Dec 31] that Fox 2000’s Life Of Pi generated $40.1m from 7,936 screens in 56 markets. To date it has grossed a relatively early $220.2m that promises much more to come. It arrives this week in Australia, Russia and South Korea.

Ang Lee’s seaborne adventure opened in Germany in second place on $7.1m from 704. Roughly 87% of the result came from 3D screens. A $6.6m second weekend in the UK from 1,015 boosted the tally to $17m while a further $3.9m in the second weekend in France from 637 elevated the score to 7.9m.

Life Of Pi has amassed $7.1m in Mexico after two weekends, $9.6m in Spain after five and $14.3m after six inTaiwan, where the bulk of production took place. It ranks as Lee’s biggest hit in his homeland. In India, where part of the film shot, Life Of Pi stands at $14.3m after six.

The theatrical run ended in China on Dec 23 and the film has earned $90m to rank as the third biggest non-Chinese release of the year behind Titanic 3D and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Life Of Pi has become Fox’s third biggest release in China behind Avatar and Titanic and the industry’s fifth biggest release there behind Avatar, Transformers 3, Titanic and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Parental Guidance started off in seven markets and earned $7m from 1,491 screens. Australia produced $2.8m from 234, the UK $2.1m from 440 and Mexico $1.4m from 674.

• UPDATE: Universal Pictures International confirmed on Monday [Dec 31] that Working Title’s Les Misérables grossed $38.6m from 1,682 sites in eight territories to boost the early running total to $49m. The worldwide running total crossed $100m as international combined with the $67.1m North American gross to reach $116.1m.

The stage musical adaptation opened top in South Korea on an extraordinary $20.1m from 599 theatres over six days including previews. That registered the biggest musical opening of all time in South Korea, Universal’s biggest opening day ever and the distributor’s biggest film of 2012.

It opened top in Hong Kong on $1.6m from 31 including previews and set the biggest opening ever for a musical. The film added $3m from 351 in its second session in Japan for $13.5m. 

Les Misérables opened in Australia on Dec 26 and in the process set a new mark for the biggest film-going day of the year and the biggest opening day for a musical, for a Russell Crowe film and a Working Title production. It took $8.3m from 241 over five days including previews.

The majority of the international roll-out will continue in 2013 and the film will open in the UK on Jan 11. 

Pitch Perfect grossed $6.2m from 1,250 dates in 15 territories for $28.7m. Anna Karenina stands at $21.1m. This Is 40 opened in Slovenia on $75,000 from 11 sites. The first major launch is Australia on Jan 17. Italian comedy Colpi Di Fulmine stands at $10.1m in Italy.

• Wreck-It Ralph grossed $20.4m from 40 territories through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International to reach $100.2m internationally and $275.9m worldwide.
• Jack Reacher opened in 25 markets and brought in $18.1m through Paramount Pictures International from 2,195 cinemas in 32 countries to reach an early $22.5m.

The Tom Cruise thriller vehicle arrived in the UK on $5.5m from 445 over five days, France on $4.4m from 480, Taiwan on $1.4m from 66 and the Netherlands on $1m from 75.

DreamWorks Animation’s Rise Of The Guardians earned $11.6m from 5,151 cinemas in 59 countries in its seventh weekend to propel the running total to $165.2m. It has grossed $20.2m in France after five weekends and $15.2m in the UK over four.

Cirque Du Soleil – Worlds Away opened in five markets and generated $1.3m from 717 sites for $7.4m. Russia produced $1.2m from 606 sites.

• Skyfall crossed $700m internationally and reached the $1bn worldwide box office milestone on Sunday [Dec 30 – see separate story.]

The James Bond smash hit added $10.3m from 3,225 in 60 Sony Pictures Releasing International and MGM markets to reach $710.6m.

Hotel Transylvania stands at $167.1m.