Eastwood and Tarantino divide Euros.

The Brits adore Quentin Tarantino but feel lukewarm about Clint Eastwood, who is reveled by the French. The Germans aren't hip to Tarantino (or violent fare nowadays) and while the director has cult status Down Under, he's not resonating strongly with traditional action fans.

All that was pretty clear last week as "Kill Bill Vol. 1" and "Mystic River" gyrated wildly in their first major markets. It was a frenetic frame in France as receipts shot up by 62%, and there was a 9% upswing in Italy and slight gains in Germany, U.K. and Spain, as a bunch of Euro films drew crowds.

Exhibs in Blighty lauded the "blockbuster" numbers for Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol. 1," crediting the "virtuoso filmmaking" and the saturation campaign, and were delighted with the sizable female turnout. The splatterfest topped the bill in Oz, although some bookers were hoping for a bigger bang after the huge media coverage for the visits by the helmer and by costar Daryl Hannah. Femme assassin saga suffered from its age 18-plus rating in Germany, where one programmer opined, "This is a kung-fu fantasy, just the kind of film kids want to see, but they can't." Pic showed more heft in Austria (benefiting from a less restrictive rating) and Poland, but wasn't potent in Hong Kong, where Chinese films are dominating.

"Mystic River" gave Eastwood his third-biggest preem in France behind "A Perfect World" and "Space Cowboy" (which both launched on more prints), fueled by crix who saw it as a haunting depiction of America trapped in "an infernal cycle of violence." One opined it was unjustly ignored at the Cannes lest and another put it on the same pedestal as "Unforgiven."

The Sean Penn/Tim Robbins/Kevin Bacon starrer did OK in London but was thinly attended elsewhere, disappointing exhibs who said the dark subject matter is a turnoff. "River" chalked up healthy per-screen averages in French-speaking Switzerland (a personal best for Eastwood) and Belgium.

The frame's champ, "Bad Boys II," arrested $16.2 million on 4,525 engagements in 50 markets, hoisting cume to $89.2 million. It'll easily top $100 million, but by how much will hinge on bow it fares in Japan late next month, its last major stop. Buddy-cop caper ruled in France, Russia and Portugal, and in its soph sessions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland. Although the sequel's Italian bow nearly doubled that of the original, some exhibs said it's playing well in urban multiplexes but not in the provinces.

Beginning its offshore travels, "Intolerable Cruelty" reigned in italy (Universal's sixth biggest entry locally), fed by buzz from its Venice lest screening and the high profile of George Clooney, who owns a house on Lake Como. Romantic comedy was No. 1 in Brazil and handy in Mexico and German-speaking Switzerland but so so in action-oriented Taiwan. The Coen brothers' pic is almost certain to get a much warmer reception in Europe, where folks generally are more partial to that kind of sophisticated humor than Stateside auds. UIP modified the TV spots to accentuate the Coens.

Sony didn't think "The Rundown" means much overseas and retitled it "Welcome to the Jungle" or variations of that. The Rock headliner was No. 1 in Singapore and Malaysia, without setting either market alight, but, oddly, corpsed in Taiwan.

Driven chiefly by a buoyant opening in France, "American Wedding's" cume climbed to $101.4 million in 40 markets, marking Universal's fifth release this year to cross the century, joining "8 Mile," "Johnny English," "The Hulk" and "2 Fast 2 Furious," and the industry's 19th.

"Finding Nemo" surged to $124.7 million in 26 territories, buoyed by its socko second outing in the U.K., with continental Europe and Japan ahead.

"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" levitated to $87.3 million in 35 countries, redeeming domestic's puny $66.4 million--testimony largely to Sean Connery's undimmed stature overseas. U.K. exhibs that had feared the Fox film would be a train wreck were thrilled with the opening, and one noted it's drawing young males who are "too embarrassed" to go to "Nemo" and too young to see "Kill Bill."

Teutonic auds embraced "The Miracle of Bern," saga of a child's relationship with his estranged father, set against the 1954 World Cup soccer championship (when underdog Germany defeat Hungary). One booker said it drew people who rarely go to the cinema, but some soccer fans weren't happy as they expected more football and less family drama.

Gauls were curious to catch "Janis and John," actress Marie Trintignant's last film before she died Aug. 1 ,after a violent fight with her b.f. Bertrand Cantet, lead singer of rock band Noir Desir. It's a comedy about a small-time crook who has his wile and an out-of-work actor masquerade as Janis Joplin and John Lennon to swindle his 1960s-fixated cousin out of iris inheritance.

Biz in Spain was sustained by rookie "Underworld" (which overshadowed fellow frosh "Once Upon a Time in Mexico") and sterling holds by local clicks "Football Days," "Carmen" and "Take My Eyes." Sexy item "The Dreamers" held stoutly in its second turn in Italy, where helmer Bernardo Bertolucci is a favorite son, but was a snoozer in Spain, where his films usually appeal to a niche aud.

Archie Thomas in London John Hopewell in Madrid, Liza Klaussmann in Paris, Ed Meza in Berlin and Sheri Jennings in Rome contributed to this report.

NEW ENTRIES OVERSEAS

High-profile releases debuting over the Oct. 24-26 frame:

Intolerable Cruelty (Australia, Germany, Spain, U.K.)

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (Italy, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan)

Mystic River (Holland, Italy, Spain)

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (France, Hong Kong, Mexico, South Korea)

Secondhand Lions (U.K.)

The Rundown (Philippines, Thailand)

INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

Weekend ended 10/19/03 JAPAN $1=¥109

 1. Spy Kids 3D: Game Over $1,454,003 2 148
 (Asmik-Ace)
 2. League of Extraordinary 1,137,507 2 361
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 3. S.W.A.T. (Sony) 976,759 4 257
 4. Freddy vs. Jason 976,599 1 176
 (Herald)
 5. Onmyoji 2 (Toho) 971,486 3 275
 6. Ongon--The Law of Gold 772,670 2 118
 (Toei)
 7. Bayside Shakedown 2 569,743 14 268
 (Toho)
 8. Zatoichi (Shochiku) 463,027 6 214
 9. Lara Croft 2 401,957 5 295
 (Toho-Towa)
10. Johnny English (UIP) 275,817 3 204

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Spy Kids 3D: Game Over $9,824 -.12% $4,689,212
 (Asmik-Ace)
 2. League of Extraordinary 3,151 -.48% 5,740,839
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 3. S.W.A.T. (Sony) 3,801 -.38% 14,734,939
 4. Freddy vs. Jason 5,549 -- 976,599
 (Herald)
 5. Onmyoji 2 (Toho) 3,533 -.46% 9,456,165
 6. Ongon--The Law of Gold 6,548 -.31% 3,271,532
 (Toei)
 7. Bayside Shakedown 2 2,126 -.49% 153,067,890
 (Toho)
 8. Zatoichi (Shochiku) 2,164 -.38% 23,696,316
 9. Lara Croft 2 1,363 -.48% 15,850,737
 (Toho-Towa)
10. Johnny English (UIP) 1,352 -.46% 2,588,780

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

 $1=0.59
Weekend ended 10/19/03 UK/IRELAND £

 1. Finding Nemo (BVI) $9,891,640 2 475
 2. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (BVI) 4,498,549 2 372
 3. League of 3,349,076 1 365
 Extraordinary ... *
 (Fox)
 4. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 1,188,402 3 327
 5. Calendar Girls (BVI) 1,138,519 7 374
 6. Cabin Fever (Redbus) 871,781 2 275
 7. Mystic River (WB) 492,875 1 119
 8. Down With Love (Fox) 297,926 3 202
 9. Italian Job (UIP) 307,717 5 244
10. Pirates of the 296,149 11 267
 Caribbean ... (BVI)

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Finding Nemo (BVI) $20,825 -.19% $26,952,823
 2. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (BVI) 12,093 +1,564% 4,935,167
 3. League of 9,176 -- 3,349,076
 Extraordinary ... *
 (Fox)
 4. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 3,634 -52% 12,140,829
 5. Calendar Girls (BVI) 3,044 -30% 27,581,583
 6. Cabin Fever (Redbus) 3,170 -50% 3,359,355
 7. Mystic River (WB) 4,142 -- 492,875
 8. Down With Love (Fox) 1,261 -57% 2,975,988
 9. Italian Job (UIP) 1,261 -67% 12,468,774
10. Pirates of the 1,109 -50% 46,106,991
 Caribbean ... (BVI)

* total includes previews

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

Weekend ended 10/19/03 SPAIN $1=0.87 €

 1. Underworld (Filmax) $1,730,422 1 280
 2. Once Upon a Time in 1,363,755 1 300
 Mexico (BVI)
 3. Football Days (BVI) 1,141,076 5 211
 4. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 1,022,225 3 375
 5. Carmen (BVI) 878,071 3 191
 6. Freddy us. Jason 799,946 2 305
 (TriPictures)
 7. Italian Job (UIP) 441,200 4 229
 8. Take My Eyes 421,394 2 81
 (Alto Films)
 9. Legally Blonde 2 (Fox) 295,572 2 199
10. The Dreamers (Lauren) 284,649 1 131

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Underworld (Filmax) $6,180 -- $1,730,422
 2. Once Upon a Time in 4,546 -- 1,363,755
 Mexico (BVI)
 3. Football Days (BVI) 5,408 -2% 7,705,689
 4. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 2,726 -42% 7,010,621
 5. Carmen (BVI) 4,597 -23% 4,391,707
 6. Freddy us. Jason 2,623 -56% 2,976,208
 (TriPictures)
 7. Italian Job (UIP) 1,927 -34% 4,249,861
 8. Take My Eyes 5,202 +6% 1,013,658
 (Alto Films)
 9. Legally Blonde 2 (Fox) 1,485 -28% 803,811
10. The Dreamers (Lauren) 2,173 -- 284,649

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

Weekend ended 10/19/03 AUSTRALIA $1=A1.55AUD

 1. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (BVI) $1,582,844 1 272
 2. Calendar Girls (BVI) 627,926 2 185
 3. Pirates of the 579,032 6 318
 Caribbean ... (BVI)
 4. League of Extraordinary 456,989 3 203
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 5. Intolerable Cruelty 323,840 1 189
 (UIP/Universal)
 6. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 290,218 5 215
 7. Finding Nemo (BVI) 275,370 8 328
 8. Lara Croft 2 (UIP/Par) 205,532 4 213
 9. Gettin Square (Hoyts) 183,012 2 132
10. Japanese Story (Palace) 175,916 5 52

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (BVI) $5,819 -- $1,585,399
 2. Calendar Girls (BVI) 3,394 -3% 1,897,030
 3. Pirates of the 1,821 -43% 15,666,591
 Caribbean ... (BVI)
 4. League of Extraordinary 2,251 -52% 4,668,751
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 5. Intolerable Cruelty 1,713 -- 364,566
 (UIP/Universal)
 6. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 1,350 -45% 7,041,571
 7. Finding Nemo (BVI) 840 -63% 25,149,569
 8. Lara Croft 2 (UIP/Par) 965 -53% 3,990,239
 9. Gettin Square (Hoyts) 1,386 -27% 576,762
10. Japanese Story (Palace) 3,383 -- 1,524,583

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

Weekend ended 10/19/03 GERMANY $1=0.87 €

 1. Das Wunder von Bern $2,918,024 1 411
 (CTSI)
 2. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 2,891,856 2 788
 3. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (BVI) 1,994,327 1 621
 4. League of Extraordinary 1,133,148 3 718
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 5. Pirates of the 945,993 7 732
 Caribbean ... (BVI)
 6. Die wilden Kerle (BVI) 369,974 3 349
 7. Herr Lehmann (Delphi) 363,335 3 128
 8. Jester Till 250,887 4 512
 (Solo Film)
 9. Rosenstrasse (Concorde) 234,515 5 205
10. Identity (CTSI) 190,657 5 275

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Das Wunder von Bern $7,100 -- $2,918,024
 (CTSI)
 2. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 3,670 -51% 10,270,885
 3. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (BVI) 3,211 -- 1,994,327
 4. League of Extraordinary 1,578 -40% 9,915,582
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 5. Pirates of the 1,292 -33% 38,823,428
 Caribbean ... (BVI)
 6. Die wilden Kerle (BVI) 1,060 -21% 2,060,572
 7. Herr Lehmann (Delphi) 2,839 -33% 2,098,532
 8. Jester Till 490 -31% 2,469,866
 (Solo Film)
 9. Rosenstrasse (Concorde) 1,144 -34% 3,003,685
10. Identity (CTSI) 693 -49% 4,585,743

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

Weekend ended 10/19/03 FRANCE $1=0.87 €

 1. Bad Boys II (CTSI) $4,066,828 1 671
 2. American Wedding (UIP) 3,735,832 1 642
 3. Mystic River (WB) 1,832,020 1 320
 4. Janis and John (Mars) 1,042,465 1 240
 5. League of Extraordinary 790,346 3 525
 Gentlemen (UFD)
 6. Barbarian Invasions 784,269 4 433
 (Pyramide)
 7. I'm Staying! (Pathe) 674,364 3 365
 8. Good Bye Lenin! (Ocean) 626,096 6 191
 9. That Woman (TFM) 459,615 1 208
10. Love Me if You Dare 407,595 5 306
 (Mars)

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Bad Boys II (CTSI) $6,061 -- $4,066,828
 2. American Wedding (UIP) 5,819 -- 3,735,832
 3. Mystic River (WB) 5,725 -- 1,832,020
 4. Janis and John (Mars) 4,344 -- 1,042,465
 5. League of Extraordinary 1,505 -53% 5,149,343
 Gentlemen (UFD)
 6. Barbarian Invasions 1,811 -31% 5,312,088
 (Pyramide)
 7. I'm Staying! (Pathe) 1,848 -43% 3,627,827
 8. Good Bye Lenin! (Ocean) 3,278 -19% 5,182,501
 9. That Woman (TFM) 2,210 -- 459,615
10. Love Me if You Dare 1,332 -50% 5,980,139
 (Mars)

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

Weekend ended 10/19/03 ITALY $1=0.87 €

 1. Intolerable Cruelty $2,227,326 1 330
 (UIP)
 2. League of Extraordinary 1,085,050 2 317
 Gentlemen (20th)
 3. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 947,578 1 303
 4. The Dreamers (20th) 855,657 2 304
 5. American Wedding (UIP) 489,782 3 217
 6. Freddy vs. Jason 291,553 2 144
 (Mediafilm)
 7. Matchstick Men (WB) 221,322 4 124
 8. Anything Else (Medusa) 173,137 3 101
 9. Pirates of the 172,973 7 91
 Caribbean ... (BVI)
10. Elephant (BIM) 98,135 3 67

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Intolerable Cruelty $6,749 -- $2,236,597
 (UIP)
 2. League of Extraordinary 3,423 -38% 3,493,323
 Gentlemen (20th)
 3. Bad Boys II (CTSI) 3,127 -- 947,578
 4. The Dreamers (20th) 2,824 -27% 3,064,607
 5. American Wedding (UIP) 2,257 -53% 4,327,597
 6. Freddy vs. Jason 2,025 -42% 999,871
 (Mediafilm)
 7. Matchstick Men (WB) 1,785 -41% 2,568,387
 8. Anything Else (Medusa) 1,714 -44% 1,312,741
 9. Pirates of the 1,901 -41% 14,189,315
 Caribbean ... (BVI)
10. Elephant (BIM) 1,465 -21% 631,297

 Title Weekend's
Rank (local distribution) B.O. Week Engmnts.

Weekend ended 10/19/03 MEXICO * $1=11.26PESOS

 1. Spy Kids 3D: $1,406,432 2 294
 Game Over (BCT)
 2. S.W.A.T. (BCT) 955,740 1 402
 3. Intolerable Cruelty 655,908 1 264
 (UIP)
 4. Nicotina (VID) 376,882 3 230
 5. Identity (BCT) 169,085 3 185
 6. Basic (Fox) 139,119 2 224
 7. Freddy vs. Jason (VID) 98,476 5 148
 8. League of Extraordinary 75,270 6 135
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 9. Matchstick Men (WB) 65,573 4 94
10. Dumb and Dumberer (VID) 39,803 5 55

 Title
Rank (local distribution) Eng. average % change B.O. cume

 1. Spy Kids 3D: $4,784 -11% $3,631,542
 Game Over (BCT)
 2. S.W.A.T. (BCT) 2,377 -- 955,740
 3. Intolerable Cruelty 2,485 -- 655,908
 (UIP)
 4. Nicotina (VID) 1,639 -30% 2,366,466
 5. Identity (BCT) 914 -42% 1,318,622
 6. Basic (Fox) 621 -64% 729,545
 7. Freddy vs. Jason (VID) 665 -22% 1,629,418
 8. League of Extraordinary 558 -64% 6,406,678
 Gentlemen (Fox)
 9. Matchstick Men (WB) 698 -51% 1,155,043
10. Dumb and Dumberer (VID) 724 -33% 819,101

* all totals includes previews

Article Details

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Author:	Groves, Don
Publication:	Variety
Date:	Oct 27, 2003
Words:	2344
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