‘Life of Pi’ ($60M) Edges ‘Hobbit’ ($57M) at Overseas Box Office

Peter Jackson's Middle-earth epic ups foreign box office gross to $560M and $825M worldwide. "Life of Pi" hits $300M overseas

Fox's "Life of Pi" was king at the overseas box office this weekend, taking in $60.1 million from 65 foreign markets to raise its international gross to nearly $302 million.

The big weekend narrowly beat out "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," which added another $57 million overseas, and raised its worldwide box office haul to nearly $825 million since opening on Dec. 12.

Director Ang Lee's "Pi" opened No. 1 in seven of eight markets in which it debuted. Russia, at $14.1 million, was the weekend leader, followed by Australia ($8.2 million) and South Korea ($5.4 million). China, where "Pi has completed its run, is its top market with more than $90 million.

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With the big weekend, Warner Bros.' and MGM's "The Hobbit" has passed "Twilight" Breaking Dawn 2" at the global box office. The "Twilight" finale has brought in $813 million since opening on Nov. 16.

The overseas total came from 65 markets, and was run up with roughly 5.6 million admissions from almost 13,500 screens. That's a 43 percent drop from the previous week.

Overall, "The Hobbit" has taken in more than $560 million overseas. Germany remains the strongest foreign territory, having brought in $74 million. The U.K. ($72 million), France ($39.6 million), Russia ($36 million) and Spain ($32 million) are next. Its North American total, after adding $17.5 million this weekend, is $263 million.

Paramount's "Jack Reacher" was third for the weekend with $22.3 million from 16 territories and Universal's "Les Miserables" was No. 4 with $14.5 million from 18 markets.

 

 

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