Family fare perks up overseas box office

By Hy Hollinger

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "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 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 honors 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.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter