Zhang Yimou's action epic Hero opened number one in France at the weekend, grossing$1.9m from 375 theatres.

According to executives atUniversal, which distributed the film there after acquiring rights from Focus,the opening was well ahead of the 10 other new entries and comprised 60% of the2000 opening for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

American Pie: The Weddingadded $4.2m from 1,635 sites in 17markets to raise its international running total to $76.9m.

The highlights were numberone openings in Belgium, where it grossed $777,000 from 50 for Universal'sbiggest bow of the year there, and Hungary, where it took $285,000 from 35 forUniversal's biggest opening there since American Pie 2 in 2001.

Thailand opened on a good$247,000 from 41 while strong holdovers added $643,000 from 91 in theNetherlands, where the film dropped off a tiny 3% for $1.5m after 11 days and$500,000 from 468 in Germany for $17.6m in its sixth week and a 25% fall.

The UK grossed $462,000 from221 in its seventh week, dropping off 34% for $27m, while Mexico dropped 30%and added $325,000 from 256 for $3.8m in its fourth week.

Ned Kelly opened ninth in the UK on $341,000 from 213, whichhelped raise the film's international cumulative score to $5.6m.

Johnny English began its run in China on Sept 11 and to date hasgrossed $624,000 from 121 venues. Its French total is currently $6.5m and theinternational running total is $125.9m.

2 Fast 2 Furious had a good opening in India and took $53,000 from 19.In Argentina it finished fourth on $68,000 from 35, dropping 50% for an 11-daytotal of $260,000.

To date 2 Fast 2 Furious has amassed $104.4m at the international box officeand opens in its final territory of Egypt on Oct 1.

The Hulk's current international total is $106.8m and willopen in its final two markets of China and Croatia on Oct 10 and Oct 23respectively.