TLS explodes at international box office
Tom Cruise has ended the domination of Frodo & Co. in foreign markets, as “The Last Samurai” may have dethroned “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” with an estimated $30.6 million over the weekend.
The arrival of a Tom Cruise starrer appeared particularly timely during the frame as Warner’s “Samurai” battled its way to $23.7 million from openings in nine European markets. It also took $4.85 million from its sixth weekend in Japan, where it has cumed an impressive $73.4 million, and $2.1 million from Korea, India and Indonesia.
“Samurai” finished a close second in the U.K., with $4.9 million at 430 playdates, and in Germany with $4.7 million at 829 engagements, both on par with openings for “Saving Private Ryan.” One distrib estimated “King” had grossed $6.4 million in Blighty, a 41% decline.
“Samurai” scored its biggest take in Italy, where “King” won’t open until Jan. 23, taking $5.7 million at 600 sites to lead that market. The figure repped the fourth largest Italian opening for a Warner pic after “Harry Potter (news – web sites) and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “The Matrix Reloaded” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”
“Samurai” easily won in Spain over “King” with $5.2 million at 425 playdates, including previews, marking Warner’s fifth biggest debut in that territory with results 14% higher than “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” “Samurai” also was No. 1 in Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, Israel and Portugal.
In an illustration of the variance in offshore estimates, Warner said “Samurai” was contending for first in Japan with $4.85 million, while BVI reported the sixth frame of “Finding Nemo” had won the territory with $7 million in its sixth weekend for a cume of $77.4 million. “Return of the King” won’t open in Japan until mid-February
GORGEOUS MAGAZINE COVERS!!(thanks to Architect)
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