"Dark Knight" still No. 1 at foreign box office

By Frank Segers

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "The Dark Knight" led the foreign box office for a third consecutive weekend -- and fourth overall -- as its international sales hit $417 million.

The film earned an estimated $19 million from 62 markets, led by No. 1 rankings in Germany ($4.4 million in its second weekend) and France ($3.3 million in its third). The top markets overall are the U.K. with $90.3 million and Australia with $41.1 million. The North American tally stands at $502.4 million.

Current North American champ "Tropic Thunder" grossed an estimated $3.5 million from 11 markets, hoisting its early overseas total to $14.1 million.

The Vin Diesel sci-fi film "Babylon A.D.," which opened at No. 2 domestically, wound its second weekend on the international circuit with an estimated $3.2 million. About $1.5 million of that came its second weekend in France.

Finishing No. 2 internationally was "Mamma Mia!" with $12.1 million from 33 markets, raising its international total to $258.3 million. The adaptation of the hit stage musical has now eclipsed "Iron Man" ($256 million) as the year's sixth-biggest overseas hit.

A muscular No. 1 opening in Italy -- $6.6 million -- pushed "Kung Fu Panda" into the No. 3 spot with an estimated $9.1 million from 62 markets; its overseas total now stands at $385 million.

Fourth was Will Smith's superhero outing "Hancock," which nabbed $8.9 million from 44 territories for an overseas total of $353 million. A No. 1 Japan opening provided $7.9 million.

Tied for the No. 5 slot were the Pixar cartoon "WALL-E" and the Adam Sandler comedy "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," each with an estimated $7.7 million. Their respective totals rose to $175 million and $69.2 million.

Other foreign totals: "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," $22.5 million; "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," $40.7 million; "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," $239.1 million; "Get Smart," $87.5 million; "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," $41 million; "Meet Dave," $30 million; "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," $273 million.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter