"Pirates" flag still flies over global box office
(Reuters) Updated: 2006-09-25 16:13
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Actor Johnny Depp adjusts his glass during a
premiere event for his film 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'
in Tokyo July 10, 2006. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' led
the foreign box office for the 11th time in 12 weekends Sunday with
estimated sales of $7.6 million from 36 territories. (Toru
Hanai/Reuters)
| LOS ANGELES - "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" led the
foreign box office for the 11th time in 12 weekends Sunday with estimated sales
of $7.6 million from 36 territories.
The total for the Disney swashbuckler stands at $625.6 million, making it the
fourth-biggest overseas movie ever, surpassing 2002's " Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets" ($614 million). "Dead Man's Chest" now has its sights set on
the No. 3 title, 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" ($658 million).
With its phenomenally successful overseas rollout winding down, it is
considered unlikely that "Dead Man's Chest" will overtake the No. 2 all-time
international grosser, 2003's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
($756 million), or the reigning overseas champ, 1997's "Titanic" ($1.244
billion).
The biggest territory for "Dead Man's Chest" during the weekend was Italy,
where the film absconded with an estimated $4.5 million, pushing its 12-day
market total to $20 million. Its worldwide box office total stands at $1.0545
billion.
No. 2 for the weekend was "World Trade Center," which broadened its
international exposure from one to 11 markets for an estimated $6.1 million. The
early overseas box office total for Oliver Stone's September 11 drama stands at
$8.1 million thanks largely to a No. 1 finish for the weekend in France, where
it grossed an estimated $2.6 million.
"Little Man" held at No. 3. The Wayans brothers comedy grossed an estimated
$5 million from 31 markets, lifting its overseas total to $29.6 million.
At No. 4 for the weekend was "Cars," which registered an estimated $4.7
million from 27 territories in its 15th weekend internationally. The Pixar
cartoon has earned $200.1 million, making it one of seven films to pass the
double-century mark this year.
"You, Me and Dupree" was fifth with $4.4 million from 24 markets, lifting its
overseas total to $36.3 million.
In Britain, the top movie was "Children of Men" director Alfonso Cuaron's
futuristic fantasy-drama starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine.
"Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," starring Will Ferrell, opened at
No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand.
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