Thespectacle of climatic mayhem will be writ large in the world's theatresthis weekend as Fox International launches The Day AfterTomorrow in 100countries alongside a saturation Memorial Weekend bow in the US.

Roland Emmerich's environmental disaster picturehas inspired the biggest ever day-and-date release (and the only true one ofthe season) and plays in 110 markets. Screen counts were unavailable at time ofwriting.

Studiopersonnel have planned this release for more than a year and will be looking toestablish the picture with some heavy hits before Warner Bros opens HarryPotter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban next week.

The DayAfter Tomorrowkicked off on May 26 in France, Belgium and Switzerland and was due to roll outtoday (27) in Australia, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Thailand and Argentina, amongothers.

A busy May 28 sees wideopenings in the UK, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, China and South Africa, withTaiwan out on May 29.

The finaltwo major markets of Korea and Japan are scheduled to follow on Jun 4 and Jun 5respectively.

Globalaudiences have a taste for Emmerich's no-holds-barred brand ofentertainment. His 1996 epic Independence Day grossed around $505m at theinternational box office and more than $800m worldwide.

FoxInternational executives said that the comedy Cheaper By The Dozen has reached $51.2m at theinternational box office, while The Passion Of The Christ has amassed $79m in Fox markets.

Naturally all the otherdistributors have marked the long weekend as a good time to lie low and noneappears to have planned a wide release in a major market.

Latestfigures from Warner Bros Pictures International puts Troy on $162.3m, Scooby-Doo 2 on $91.2m, Taking Lives on $31.1m and Something'sGotta Give on$140.6m.

Universal'sVan Helsing hasgrossed $123m through UIP to date but has no bows this weekend, while ParamountClassics' mystery The Reckoning has a small bow through UIP in Japan on May 29.

Miramax's Kill Bill Vol 2 has amassed $66m from 34 territories through Buena Vista International (BVI) following a $3.1m opening in France last weekend.

Scary Movie 3 has taken $110.7m from 44 territories, Spy Kids 3D: Game Over has grossed $79.6m from 42 and Starsky And Hutch is on $70m from 40.