‘Knight’ rules world

With the competing “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” off to a shaky start internationally, “The Dark Knight” had little trouble dominating overseas boxoffice during the weekend with an estimated gross of $65.6 million from 7,143 screens in 51 markets.

The latest Batman feature averaged $9,184 per screen in its second stanza on the international circuit, playing nearly three times the number of territories as in its opening weekend. The superhero film seized the No. 1 spot in 42 of the markets it played, with its U.K. opening producing a potent $22.3 million from 1,021 sites. In Italy, the opening weekend was $5 million from 636 situations.

“Dark Knight’s” international gross is $126.3 million; worldwide it’s $440.5 million.

Sony’s “Hancock,” starring Will Smith, finished second on the weekend with an estimated $19.2 million from 7,563 situations in 71 markets, besting DreamWorks Animation/Paramount’s “Kung Fu Panda,” which finished at No. 3 with an estimated $17.8 million from 6,565 screens in 59 territories. “Hancock” has rolled up an international gross of nearly $300 million ($294.6 million), while the animated “Panda’s” overseas cume is $305 million.

At No. 4 overall, “Mamma Mia!” flew past the $100 million overseas mark ($111.7 million) thanks to an estimated $17.5 million weekend from 2,390 screens in 21 territories.

Finishing fifth was “X-Files.” Its weekend gross was an estimated $9.3 million. (partialdiff)

Related Stories

Related Story

Lady Gaga’s Vogue Cover Released, Additional ’60 Minutes’ Footage Leaked

Related Stories

Related Story

"Sunset Boulevard"