Smiles, thrills rule at overseas box office submitted by: Lisa D. source: Variety Date: November 6, 2001 By Don Groves SYDNEY - Audiences overseas went in search of laughs and thrills last weekend, paying off in spades for "American Pie 2," "The Others" and "Scary Movie 2," and, to a lesser extent, for "Swordfish" and "Cats and Dogs." The "Pie" sequel was the pacesetter, grabbing $9.4 million from 18 countries, hoisting its foreign total to $87.4 million. The J.B. Rogers-helmed caper cooked up $2.4 million in five days in Italy, its three-day figure outpacing the original by 120%, and a dandy $320,000 in Hong Kong. Remarkably for a Yank laffer, "Pie 2" ruled in its third lap in France, minting $2.6 million, propelling the territory total to $13.4 million. With $29 million in the till in Germany, the film stands as the second-biggest U.S. film of the year in that territory behind "What Women Want." The Nicole Kidman starrer "The Others" reigned in Mexico, the U.K. and Brazil. The ghost story rang up $2.7 million in five days in Mexico, a local record for a Miramax release, beating "Scary Movie"; $3.2 million in the U.K., including sneaks; and $854,000 in Brazil, where it was Miramax's second-best premiere this year. Adding in lucrative holdover biz in Spain, Italy and Argentina, the picture's estimated foreign total reached $40 million. "Scary Movie 2" commanded pole position in Spain with $3 million in five days, Miramax's highest ever bow ever there, beating the predecessor. The horror spoof also ruled in Portugal, fetching $290,000. Its foreign total climbed to $45.9 million from 35 territories, generally tracking about 60% of the first "Scary. " Logging on in its last major markets, "Swordfish" led the field in a subdued weekend in Germany, notching $1.8 million, and placed second in Japan (behind indefatigable local champ "Spirited Away") with $1.8 million, in the latter a tad better than "Gone in Sixty Seconds." The John Travolta starrer's foreign total topped $60 million. Nearing the end of its international escapades, "Cats and Dogs" hit $96 million, helped by Italy's OK $1.4 million in five days and Japan's solid $6.2 million through its third outing. In the final stops on its foreign tour, domestic dud "Evolution" fetched a fair $1 million in Mexico and a mediocre $1.5 million in Japan; its $52.7 million foreign total has eclipsed domestic's $38.3 million, but that's a disappointing result overall for the pricey sci-fi comedy helmed by Ivan Reitman. "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" levitated to $151.4 million, driven by Russia's excellent $357,000 opener and France's handy $5.9 million in 12 days. "Wasabi," the Luc Besson-produced action-comedy from "Taxi 2" helmer Gerard Krawczyk, toplining Jean Reno, opened at No. 1 in Paris and surrounding suburbs and No. 2 nationwide. Those notoriously fickle Gallic audiences were not much enamored by "America's Sweethearts," judging by its $1.5 million debut. However, the Julia Roberts starrer had a warmer reception in Belgium, clocking $382,000. Its foreign total is a so-so $44.7 million from 44 markets. Domestic loser "Bandits," Barry Levinson's heist caper toplining Bruce Willis, Cate Blanchett and Billy Bob Thornton, landed in Germany, its first foreign engagement, as a distant No. 6, stealing just $933,000. Continuing its European rollout after making a tidy $7.8 million in the U.K., "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" surfaced in Norway with $320,000 -- 15% better than "Shrek" and Disney's third-highest toon debut in that market. Its foreign total rose to $32.7 million. After corpsing in Italy and Hong Kong, "The Princess Diaries" partially redeemed itself with a top-ranked $278,000 in Singapore. The family picture at least held steady after a slow start in France, collecting $1 million in 12 days, and has raked in a neat $3 million through its third chapter in Mexico. --

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