Despicable Me reclaims lead at foreign box office

LOS ANGELES  – Family-oriented animation trumped horror at the foreign box office during Halloween weekend as "Despicable Me" reclaimed the No. 1 spot from "Paranormal Activity 2."

The 3D cartoon snared $22.8 million from 47 markets, pushing its foreign haul to $235.4 million. Strong holdovers in France ($6.9 million, No. 3) and Britain ($4.5 million, No. 2) combined with a No. 2 opening in Japan ($2.7 million) and a No. 1 Belgium bow ($1.2 million).

"Paranormal Activity 2" slipped to No. 2 with $14 million, tied with "The Social Network." Their respective totals rose to $46 million and $51 million. The horror sequel remained the top choice in Mexico, while the Facebook saga had the most friends in Australia, Singapore and Israel.

The weekend's other Halloween-timed entry, "Saw 3D," the new champ in North America, scared up a fourth-ranked $11.5 million from 25 territories. The seventh film in the horror series debuted at No. 1 in Britain with $5.3 million.

Fifth overall, on the strength of its $9.4 million haul in France, was "Les Petits Mouchoirs" (Little White Lies), a homegrown variation of "The Big Chill."

Elsewhere, "Megamind" opened at No. 1 in piracy-prone Russia and Ukraine, tallying a $7.3 million total. The 3D cartoon opens in North America on Friday.

"Jackass 3D" outgrossed its rivals in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, nabbing a total of $4.2 million from six markets.