Paramount/PPI's Transformers has already amassed $53.5m since opening last weekend and stands a good chance of crossing $100m over the next several days in international markets.

The effects-heavy tale of warring robots touches down in 18 new territories this weekend including Russia, Spain and Sweden on July 4.

PPI stablemate and the current international box office champion Shrek The Third will soar past $300m this weekend and stands at $284.6m.

Fox International has two big releases in play, however executives were unavailable after the July 4 national holiday to give details of new openings.

As of last weekend, Live Free Or Die Hard stood at a little over $44m following a strong launch weekend, while Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer should cross $100m this weekend after raising its tally to approximately $88.3m.

Buena Vista International (BVI) executives expected Pirates Of The

Caribbean: At World's End to overtake Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets to become the fifth-biggest international release by the weekend.

The third episode of the swashbuckling saga has no new openings but has amassed $614m and needs another $700,000 to enter the top five.

Meanwhile BVI opens Ratatouille, currently on $8.3m from the early stages of its run, in Argentina on Jul 5, followed a day later by Mexico and Brazil.

Warner Bros Pictures International (WBPI) reports no new launches this weekend. As of July 1 Ocean's Thirteen stood at $124.1m, Zodiac on $43.9m, and 300 on $243.6m.

Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) has a quiet weekend ahead and opens the thriller Vacancy, currently on $3.7m, in Taiwan and India on July 6.

Hostel: Part 2 has two minor openings and has grossed $8.1m, while Spider-Man 3 stands at $548.8m.

The wartime thriller Black Book, which SPRI has in Australia, New Zealand and India, launches down under on July 5.

Universal/UPI's Evan Almighty has taken $3.3m so far and opens in five small markets this weekend. Another Universal comedy, Knocked Up, begins its international run in Australia on Jul 5. The horror film Dead Silence opens in the UK on July 6.

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