Hugh Jackman returns in his sixth outing as the mutant with adamantium claws in The Wolverine and Fox International’s action release is the favourite to tear through the competition this weekend.

The superhero story launches in approximately 62 territories day-and-date with North America in what is expected to be a thunderous onslaught that includes Russia, Australia, Germany, France, the UK, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Italy.

DreamWorks Animation’s Turbo is in the early stages of release through Fox International and stands at $23.7m after barely one week in action. The Croods is on the cusp of $400m at $399.8m while Epic has amassed $139.5m and The Heat $24.6m.

Pacific Rim has grossed $125m through Warner Bros Pictures International and while there are no new major market releases this weekend it is scheduled to arrive in China on Jul 31 and Japan, Brazil and Spain on Aug 9.

Man Of Steel has amassed $354m and last weekend’s number one release The Conjuring has grossed $5.2m and opens in Russia this weekend. The Great Gatsby stands at $188.9m and The Hangover Part 3 $242.2m.

After Earth stands at $180.2m through Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI). White House Down opens in China and has grossed $25.6m, while Grown-Ups 2 has grossed $10.7m and This Is The End $10.5m. Evil Dead has taken $35.1m through SPRI and $8.2m through Lionsgate International and has amassed a little over $97m worldwide.

Fast & Furious 6 stands at $478m through Universal Pictures International and could receive a big boost this weekend when it roars into China.

Executives reported on Thursday that Despicable Me 2 has grossed $332.3m and The Purge $13.7m, while R.I.P.D. and The World’s End are in the early stages of release and have grossed $10.2m and $6.2m, respectively.

World War Z has amassed $275m through Paramount Pictures International while Star Trek Into Darkness has grossed $223.7m.

Monsters University has grossed $300.8m and The Lone Ranger $71.7m through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

Now You See Me has generated $88.6m following last weekend’s $8.2m haul from 58 markets through Lionsgate International. Red 2 launched on $8.4m from 11 including a number one debut in South Korea on $6.2m from 729.