"Bourne" returns to No. 1 at foreign box office

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-09-10 15:11

LOS ANGELES - Handily outdrawing an eclectic mix of fading holdovers and early fall newcomers, "The Bourne Ultimatum" reclaimed the top spot at the weekend foreign box office with an estimated $16.5 million from 37 markets.

The Matt Damon espionage thriller hiked its overseas gross to $98.8 million; the film's worldwide tally stands at $308.9 million.

"Bourne," which topped the overseas charts during the last two weekends in August, opened at No. 1 in Germany ($5 million), Austria ($850,000) and Mexico ($1.5 million). It easily outpaced the comparable gross figures in these territories recorded by the first two series titles, "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy."

"Ratatouille" came in second for the weekend with $8.5 million from 34 markets, bringing its international total to $200.9 million. Its global gross is $403 million.

The Pixar cartoon continued gangbusters in France, where the film is set. It was No. 1 in the market for the sixth consecutive weekend, grossing $1.5 million. The market total is $52.6 million, just $900,000 shy of the year's top title, "Spider-Man 3."

"Shrek the Third," the previous weekend's champion, wound up at No. 3 overall with $8 million from 63 markets, hoisting its overseas total to $451 million.

"I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," co-starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James, spread its wings internationally, taking the No. 4 slot with $5.4 million from 22 markets. It opened at No. 1 in Russia ($1.2 million) and No. 2 in Italy ($1 million, behind "Shrek," $4.3 million). Its overseas total stands at $15.4 million.

"Die Hard 4" finished at No. 5 with $4.4 million, most of it coming from a No. 1 bow in Spain with $3.7 million; the overseas total for the Bruce Willis action vehicle stands at $227.8 million.

Grossing an estimated $4.1 million each were "Knocked Up" and "The Simpsons Movie." The former has earned $44.5 million, and the latter, $309.4 million.

Other foreign totals: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," $635 million; "Ocean's Thirteen," $190.3 million; and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," $142.8 million.