International preview: The independent community will be willing the studio on as it launches the first of what it hopes will become a teen franchise across most of the world this weekend.

The film, based on the first of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy about a young girl’s fight for survival in a cruel contest set in a dystopian future, opens in 69 markets day-and-date with North America on approximately 7,700 prints.

The Hunger Games will touch down in virtually every market expect Japan, which is set for a September release, Italy and Spain, where the film will open through Warner Bros in April, and South Korea, also set for April.

UPI’s Dr Seuss’ The Lorax on an early $ arrives in nine markets including South Africa and Sweden. Contraband on $8.1m opens in South Korea among others while Take Me Home Tonight opens in Italy. Safe House breaks into Argentina.

PPI’s The Devil Inside on $3.7m infiltrates Taiwan and Raul Seixas – O Inicio, O Fim E O Meio opens in Brazil.

Fox International opens The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on $23.6m in around 13 territories including Australia, Spain, Russia and Sweden. This Means War has grossed $66.4m and arrives in France. Gone opens in Germany and The Descendants has grossed $88.4m.

Sony Pictures Releasing International opens 21 Jump Street in New Zealand, The Vow in Spain and Malaysia and Jack And Jill in Hong Kong and Sweden.

Warner Bros Pictures International’s Journey 2 stands at $207m, while Project X is at $17m and Sherlock Holmes 2 has reached $345m.

Embattled Disney executives had not returned calls at time of writing with an updated international running total for John Carter. By the end of last weekend executives said the sci-fi adventure had reached $126m.