Gladiator Slays The International Box Office

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgFor the week ending May 21, GLADIATOR still reigned in the U.K. and Australia and conquered new territory in Italy. By more than doubling the debut of FINAL DESTINATION, the DreamWorks’ colossal hit grossed another US$5.11 million in the U.K. The world champ has garnered $13.96 million on the British Isle. More than tripling the second placed newcomer ROMEO MUST DIE, the Roman ruler grossed $3.32 million in Australia, raising its cume in that country to $7.79 million. In its Italian premiere, the maker of Maximus coin landed $1.89 million. In Italy, GLADIATOR dethroned former ruler MISSION TO MARS, which fell to #3. The space epic grossed another $247,603, raising its Italian cume to $2.35 million. Elsewhere, MISSION continued to do well. Finishing at #1, the part-APOLLO 13 part-2001 flick grossed $952,730 in Germany. In one full week of release, the outer space odyssey has a German cume of $2.09 million. Staying steady in second place, the rocketship romp made another $397,969 in Brazil, bringing its total take in that country to $1.22 million. Debuting at #3 in France, the sci-fi adventure garnered $1 million at the box office. Finally, the Martian-lovers movie rounded out the top ten in Sweden, grossing $22,900 and bringing its Swedish cume to $576,130. Staying stationary at #5 in Sweden was POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE. The little-creature craze made another $61,087, raising its Swedish total to $840,908. Around the globe, POKEMON is hanging onto the top ten in Germany, Spain, Italy and France, finishing 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively. The Charmander-charmer grossed an additional $413,351 in Germany, bringing its total there to $10.66 million. Plummeting from third in Spain, the video game spin-off made $210,553, raising its Spanish cume to $4.15 million. The Japanese-import grossed $56,119 in Italy, bringing it total take in that country to $4.5 million. Winding down its French run, the Pikachu-vehicle finished with a gross of $255,450 and a cume $13.12 million. Also hanging on in French theatres is STUART LITTLE at 9th place. The CG cat-hater made another $277,453, raising its French total to $10.01 million. In addition, the Little leaped up to third in Germany, grossing $678,114 and raising its cume to $6.23 million. Falling two slots in Australia, the radiant rodent brought in an additional $213,620, which makes its Australian cume $10.91 million. THE TIGGER MOVIE had a minor resurgence in Brazil moving up a spot to #9. Tigger and his sidekick Roo racked up $271,858, bringing their Brazilian cume to $7.87 million. Slipping a slot, the Hundred Acre Wood chums made another $136,417 in the U.K., raising its cume there to $1.06 million. Making its Hong Kong premiere, THE NINTH GATE grossed $143,371, finishing in third. Taking its first bow in Spain and Sweden, PITCH BLACK finished at #1 and #3 respectively. The ALIENS-esque adventure made $714,939 in Spain and $89,203 in Sweden. SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER AND UNCUT held strong in fifth at the Italian box office. The censor satire grossed another $173,899, bringing its Italian cume to $517,052. In a feat of endurance, THE GREEN MILE has walked atop the Japanese box office for seven straight weeks! The Warner Bros. weeper rang up $720,731, raising its lofty Japanese cume to $19.15 million. Box office reports obtained in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.