'Sex' heats up European box office
'Crystal Skull' still strong in second frame
In the U.K., “Sex” took $17.3 million at 460 locations in its first five days on release according to Rentrak. Female-skewed pic, which is released by Entertainment in the U.K., went into the weekend on a roll with $7.2 million banked after brisk trade on Wednesday and Thursday. Lousy weather over the weekend helped keep “Sex” biz upbeat as Brits sought indoor entertainment.
As expected, gaggles of girls drove weekend ticket sales but Brit bookers also report that pic is attracted couples on dates. “Men are being dragged kicking and screaming to see it by their partners and actually finding they enjoy it,” said an exhib who ‘confessed’ to finding it a pleasant surprise.
“Crystal Skull” dipped 55% in its soph sesh to $10.9 million at 540 for a $54.5 million running cume for Paramount. Despite the drop-off, the three-day weekend haul for “Skull” still outstripped boffo opener “Sex” ($10.1 million).
In a weekend frame entirely dominated by “Sex” and “Skull” there were few other big earners. “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” placed sixth in its U.K. bow, taking $523,992 at 177 via Entertainment. Location average of $2,960 was decent enough for the stoner comedy sequel likely destined for solid homevid biz if previous installments in the franchise are anything to go by.
Of the holdovers, actioner “Iron Man” and counter-programmer “What Happens in Vegas” both showed good legs, dipping 25% and 30% in their fifth and fourth frames, respectively. Par release “Iron Man” now has $31.9 million banked. “Vegas” has been a summer counter-programming success story for Fox with $13.3 million.
In Italy, "Crystal Skull" held on to the top spot ahead of "Sex" in a holiday frame which also saw local Cannes prizewinners "Gomorrah" and "Il Divo" score handsomely.
Latest "Indy" installment dropped 30% in its second Italo weekend, which extended into Monday due to Italy's Republic Day, pulling $4.7 million off 669 in the four-day frame for a $13 million running cume for Universal.
"Sex" came in a solid second with $3.8 million from 533 via local distribbery 01 Distribuzione.
Matteo Garrone's Cannes Grand Prix winner "Gomorrah," a gritty depiction of the Neapolitan mob, dropped a mere 18% in its third frame, pulling $2.4 million on 392, also via 01, for a killer $11 million cume.
Paolo Sorrentino's Cannes Jury Prize winner "Il Divo" opened a very close number four with $2.3 million off 346 via Lucky Red. Result was a strong start for the pop opera about Italy's shady elder statesman Giulio Andreotti. Pic has a $2.6 million running cume having opened on Wednesday, May 28.
Yank horror remake "The Hitcher," as expected, scared up only modest returns with $623,000 from 208 via Medusa.
In the arthouse arena Irish helmer John Carney's "Once," winner of an original song Oscar, performed strongly with $116,000 from 21 screens via Nanni Moretti's Sacher Distribuzione, at number 10. Emir Kusturica's Cannes docu "Maradona by Kusturica" failed to capitalize on Maradona's iconic status in Italy, drawing just $94,000 from 83 via BIM Distribuzione.
In Germany, it was the "Sex and the City" gals doing all the whipping as their big-screen debut kicked “Skull" off the top spot.
Despite blistering summer weather, "Sex" enjoyed a decent turnout on 836 locations, garnering an impressive $7.5 million. Pic benefited from the TV series' huge popularity in Germany, although it received mixed reviews from local critics.
With the lion's share of Indy fans having flocked to theaters on its opening weekend, "Skull" dropped 64% to $4.4 million for a running cume of $18.3 million.
As elsewhere, "Sex" and "Skull" left little on the table for the competition. At number three, "What Happens in Vegas" took in $755,069 towards a $9 million total, while new entry "The Eye," starring Jessica Alba, opened in fourth with $494,775.
In France, “Skull” held firm in top spot despite the arrival of “Sex.” “Skull” slipped a very respectable 39% in its second frame, moving the total to $24.3 million. But the “Sex” entry was not dull. Pic took $6.2 million on 550 in its first five days for Metropolitan.
As elsewhere, the arrival of “Sex” did not see “What Happens in Vegas” fade even though they appeal to similar demos. “Vegas” dropped just 9% in its fourth frame for an $8 million cume.
Gaul's solo representative in the top five "Un Conte de Noel" (A Christmas Tale) has been a nice little earner for Bac, flying in the face of the Hollywood tentpole maelstrom. After two frames, it's cumed $2.3 million.
“Iron Man” dipped 12% on the week after five frames. Actioner has slightly exceeded SND's expectations with a cume of $17.6 million. “We're going to get to two million entries, and that's cool with us,” said marketing exec Henry Hamelle.
In Spain — the only major Euro territory not getting “Sex” over the weekend — UPI's "Crystal Skull" showed resilience, while other openers performed slightly below expectations.
"Crystal Skull” rustled up $6 million in its soph sesh for a running cume of $20.4 million. It slid 43%, not a drastic plunge, and in line with forecasts.
"Parents are taking their children to the theaters, which is the opposite of what usually happens with movies with wide target demos. Usually, it's the children who ask their parents to go," said a Spanish booker.
Sony's romantic comedy "Made of Honor" took $2 million off 330, a bit below expectations. Notro's "The Mist" grossed $1 million on 273, again underperforming somewhat.
Warner's Spanish laffer "Chef's Special" placed seventh in its eighth frame for an excellent $7.2 million cume, proving the pulling power of Javier Camara ("Talk to Her") in Spain. Sidney Lumet's holdover "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead" dipped just 4% for a moderate $1.3 cume.
Additional reporting by Ed Meza (Germany), Emilio Mayorga (Spain), Nick Vivarelli (Italy) and David Hayhurst (France)
