Box Office Report: <em>Guardians</em> Takes Top Spot Overseas

Criticized at home in the U.S. as “one of the most disappointing [1] releases in the company's history,” DreamWorks Animation’s Rise of the Guardians rose to the top overseas, bringing in $26.2 million this past weekend from 57 markets.

The computer-animated film remained in first place in a handful of major territories, according to Box Office Mojo [2], including France ($3 million), the U.K. ($2.6 million), Italy ($2.5 million) and Mexico ($2.2 million). Set to expand into Australia this coming weekend, Guardians has earned a worldwide total of $90.9 million to date.

Meanwhile, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi is doing impressive business overseas, adding $23.3 million from 14 markets, only slightly lower than last weekend’s $24.4 million gross. In China, the 3D stereoscopic film rose six percent to $14.6 million for a new total of $68.3 million. Life of Pi also added $2.3 million in Taiwan, $2.1 million in Spain and $1.3 million in India. The film has already earned $104.6 million overseas, and is still yet to open in nearly all of Europe and Latin America.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 added $22.6 million this weekend for a new total of $482.9 million, becoming the highest-grossing Twilight movie on both an overseas and a worldwide basis (over $750 million) ahead of Breaking Dawn Part 1.

International sensation Skyfall grossed roughly $20 million from 84 international territories this weekend. In Australia the film took first place for the third-straight week with $4.8 million, bringing its total to a record-breaking $33.5 million. In the U.K., Skyfall is now the highest-grossing movie ever with $154.5 million.

Other notable titles this weekend include Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, which brought in $5.8 million for an international gross of $51.1 million; Sony’s Hotel Transylvania, which made $4 million for an overseas total of $158.1 million; and Cloud Atlas, which brought in $1.6 million for a total of $36.3 million.