For the 3rd consecutive weekend, Twentieth Century Fox’s Rio 3D is dominating the worldwide box office, earning $44.2M from 12,987 screens in 67 markets for a massive international cume-to-date of $204.7M. With its domestic cume of $81.1M, Rio has a massive global cume already of $285.8M. The film scored the Industry’s biggest 3rd weekend ever in Brazil ($6.7M from 971) and Peru ($884K from 144), while holding the #1 position in at least 23 markets which held extremely well in the face of strong holiday competition and summer-like weather across much of Europe. And with holidays continuing and Labor Day weekend coming up in many markets, Fox expects more strong performance since 3D movies are doing especially well overseas.

Universal’s Fast Five kicked off with big openings in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Korea and an estimated gross of $24M at 957 locations. This sets the record as the biggest opening of all the Fast franchise street car racing films in these four markets.  It opened No. 1 in each market and is dominating the box office with 38% market share overall. It is Universal’s 3rd biggest opening of all time in these four markets. The movie is also No. 1 in Australia with a weekend estimate of $10.7M at 229 dates, which is Universal’s biggest opening ever in this market. For comparison, Fast Five is 30% up on the openings of Iron Man and The Bourne Ultimatum. The UK opened No. 1 with an estimated $8.8M (£5.3M) at 434 dates at the same level as Iron Man and 6% ahead of Fast & Furious 4. Korea opened No. 1 and grossed an estimated $3.4M at 239 dates. It is the biggest opening of the Fast franchise, ahead of F&F4 by 186%. It is also the No. 1 film in New Zealand with an estimated $950k at 55 dates, which is Universal’s 2nd biggest opening behind King Kong. Fast Five opens around the world over the next 2 weeks. Next weekend it adds 10 more territories including Germany, Russia and Spain, and the following weekend in Latin America, Asia, and the rest of Europe.

It’s a big start to Summer 2011, with both the Marvel/Disney actioner Thor 3D and Universal’s Fast Five such huge hits in their opening week. Both movies opened earlier overseas than in U.S. due to the Easter holiday Down Under. Distributor Paramount pitted Thor head to head this weekend against Fast Five which outgrossed the Norse God by 41% in Australia. But it’s well known that sequels go up, up, up overseas (even though they tend to go down, down, down in North America). Thor began its international rollout in Australia with US$5.8 million from 220 locations over the weekend. This is 1% ahead of the opening of Iron Man 1 in 2008, 30% up on X-Men: Wolverine and level with Clash Of The Titans. With public holidays continuing on Monday and Tuesday, and school holidays in 3 states through next weekend, Thor heads into its wide international release next weekend, a week ahead of the domestic bow. Most markets will open next weekend with the exception of Japan which opens July 2nd.

Universal’s Hop grossed an estimated $10.7M at 4,400 dates in 53 territories for an international total of $47.2M.  Hop opened in 10 territories this weekend.  Brazil was top opener at No. 3 with an estimated $1M at 296 dates. Australia is top holdover with $2M at 164 dates, off just 11% for a 25-day total of $9.7M. There are 8 territories to open over the next couple of months, but many overseas countries don’t have a history of an Easter Bunny much less one that poops jelly beans.   

Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.