Fox International's Fantastic Four takes on UIP's heavy-hitting duo of WarOf The Worlds and Madagascarthis weekend with hotlyanticipated debuts in the UK and France.

Madagascar and War Of The Worlds have amassed more than $155.2m and $264.8m respectively and heldthe top two positions last weekend.

However neither picture has a major release scheduled this weekendand will rely upon holdover business to fend off Reed Richards and hissquabbling band of mutants.

Fantastic Four has already generated more than $51.6m despite opening in onlyseveral major markets and has scored a hit everywhere it opens. The totalincludes the only two non-Fox markets of Germany and Austria, where Constantinis handling the picture.

The Marvel Comics adaptation was due to open in France on Jul 20on 665 prints followed by the UK on Jul 22 on 625.

Meanwhile Star Wars has grossed $415.6m through Fox International to date. The franchiserecord is held by Episode I on $492m, and if the latest instalment is to pass this mark itwill need to maintain its sensational form in Japan, where it stands at $37.5mafter only two weekends.

Warner Bros Pictures International opens its number one NorthAmerican picture Charlie And The Chocolate Factory in Brazil on Jul 22 and executives willbe looking to build on the early $4.4m international cumulative total. Latestfigures put Batman Begins at $142.3m and House Of Wax at $30.8m.

Universal's The Interpreter, currently on $79.8m, goes out in Russia through UIPon Jul 21 on 150 prints. The distributor opens Universal's Land OfThe Dead in Brazil on Jul 22, as well asUniversal's Kicking And Screaming inthe UK and Paramount's Without A Paddle in Italy, both on the same day.

Buena Vista International has a mixed bag of releases on Jul 22,including A Lot Like Love in Brazil (currently on $15.6m), the first international openingof Dark Water in theUK, Herbie: Fully Loaded in Mexico ($9.8m), Sin City in Mexico ($21m through BVI markets), and The AmityvilleHorror in Spain ($2.4mthrough BVI).

Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) opens TheAdventures of Sharkboy And Lavagirl in 3-D in Brazil on Jul 22 on 157 screens, as well as in Korea ona smaller number of screens on Jul 21. The early running total is $1.5m fromearly days.

SPRI releases The LongestYard, which has grossed $11.8m so far, inRussia on Jul 21 on 182 screens. Bewitched stands at $5.7m and Kung Fu Hustle has grossed $79.8m.

New Line International opens Monster In Law in Australia on Jul 21; the picture hastaken $31.3m to date. Son Of The Mask opens in Spain on Jul 22, having taken $36.9m from its runso far.