Animation B.O. in Foreign Lands

Underscoring the previous post, animation continues to chug smartly along in overseas theaters:.

... No. 5 on the weekend was Pixar/Disney's "Up," which continued its graduated foreign rollout by grossing $8.2 million from 2,243 locales in 14 territories.

"Up's" international total stands at $26.6 million, worldwide $213.8 million. The animation title finished first in 12 markets, with a second Mexico weekend generating $2.6 million (down only 29% from the opening round) from 799 screens for a market cume of $7.9 million. A Ukraine opening looms this weekend ...

Focus Features/Universal's "Coraline" upped its international cume to $29.7 million thanks to a $2.7 million weekend at 1,690 screens in 31 markets. Debuts in four markets were capped by a No. 3 opening in France, which produced $1.3 million from 438 locations.

... "Monsters vs. Aliens," [is] $171.5 million over 11 weeks foreign ...

And one of the larger animation markets is set for an on-rush of 3-D toonage through the balance of 2009:

The Japanese film industry has dubbed 2009 “year zero” for 3D with high-profile releases and new screens expected to finally kick-start local interest in the format....

...Paramount Pictures Japan announced last week that Monsters Vs Aliens will open on about 300-plus screens on July 15, with about a third of those in the 3D format. It will be the territory’s widest 3D release to date.

Disney’s Bolt, Pixar’s Up (which will receive a wider launch than Monsters Vs Aliens), [and] Toy Story 3 ... are also expected to drive interest ...

I still have glittering hopes for the White Doggie, now sitting on a $291,705,768 worldwide gross, to crack that vaunted $300 million barrier ...