Family fare perks up overseas box-office
Posted online: Apr 17, 2008 at 1546 hrs

: Dr. Suess’ Horton Hears A Who! led the foreign box-office for a second consecutive weekend, while The Spiderwick Chronicles also played strongly with the family crowd. Horton Hears A Who! earned $10.8 million from 54 markets for a foreign total of $90.6 million, according to final data issued last Monday. France contributed $3,3 million to the weekend total. Spiderwick Chronicles brought in $6.8 million from 45 markets taking its haul to about $58 million. But the big surprise of the period before May’s onslaught of the summer blockbusters was the performance of a series of French films. Following on the heels of the phenomenal Bienvenue Chez les Ch’tis, the rural comedy that has enchanted France for six weeks in a row, comes another comedy, Disco, which grabbed top honours with $8.5 million.

Ch’tis dropped to second place with $6.7 million for a market total of $168.5 million. It has sold 17.4 million tickets since it opened February 27, beating the 42-year-old record of 17.3 million admissions for the war film La Grande Vadrouille. Elsewhere, teenagers turned out for Step Up 2 the Streets, which scored $5 million from 26 markets for a total of $61.4 million. More family action saw The Game Plan tally $3.3 million from 11 markets for a total of $43.4 million. Enchanted increased its total to $207.1 million after a $23.3 million take from Japan in four weeks; the fantasy dropped to No. 2 there after three weeks at No. 1.

The prehistoric epic 10,000 BC lifted its international gross to $153.9 million after a weekend tally of $5.9 million from 62 territories. Vantage Point advanced to $67.5 million following a weekend take of $4 million from 57 markets. Other foreign totals: Cloverfield, $80 million; 27 Dresses, $65.3 million; Jumper, $124.6 million; Juno, $74.2 million and No Country For Old Men, $81.1 million.