Warner Bros Pictures International’sGran Torinoand PPI’sWatchmenwill continue to battle it out this weekend but they’ll face challenges from a trio of new arrivals. UPI launches the crime caperDuplicityin 11 territories, Sony rolls out its hit US comedyPaul Blart: Mall Copin several markets, and PPI unleashesMonsters Vs Aliensin two territories.

Clint Eastwood’s redemption drama Gran Torino has reached $50.5m and opens this weekend in Brazil and South Korea on March 20. Fantasy drama WBPI’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button stands at $197m and could cross $200m this weekend through holdover business, while the Jim Carrey comedy Yes Man, now on $128.8m, opens in Japan.

Watchmen
has taken $48.9m so far from its first two weekends and PPI will look to decent holds to help the apocalyptic tale ease past $50m.

UPI’s Duplicitystarring Clive Owen and Julia Roberts opens day-and-date with North America in 11 including Australia and New Zealand on March 19, followed by the UK and Spain on March 20.

UPI will also release the Italian comedy Diverso Da Chi in Italy on March 20.

The animated feature The Tale Of Despereaux on $31.9m opens in Germany and German-speaking Switzerland on March 19 and Austria a day later, while horror tale The Unborn, currently on $19.5m, debuts in Brazil on March 20.

PPI will also open DreamWorks Animation’s Monsters Vs Aliens in the piracy-heavy markets of Russia and Ukraine on March 19 ahead of the North American release next weekend.

Sony Pictures Releasing International’s Paul Blart: Mall Cop arrives this weekend in Australia and Singapore on March 19 followed by the UK a day later. Thriller The International has plundered $17.9m to date and debuts in Italy and Mexico on March 20. Comedy Pink Panther 2 stands at $31.8m, action fantasy Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans has grossed $35.4m through all distributors and the Will Smith drama Seven Pounds stands at $97m.

Fox International’s comedy Marley & Me on $52.4m opens in seven including Spain on March 20, while female drama The Secret Life Of Bees opens in Japan on March 20.

The Fox comedy Bride Wars has reached $53.3m, wartime thriller Valkyriestands at $101.3m through all distributors, and the epic adventure Australiahas amassed $156.8m. Fox opens the action title 12 Rounds in Australia on March 19.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s Bedtime Stories is poised to cross $100m and Japanese audiences may well push it over the mark when the comedy launches there on March 20. To date the Adam Sander release has grossed $98.9m.

The animated feature Boltstands at $175.7m while romantic comedy Confessions Of A Shopaholic has grossed $33.4m so far and opens in Belgium on March 18 followed by Argentina on March 19.

New Line International’s romantic comedy He’s Just Not That Into You currently stands at $50.3m; it opens in Hong Kong on March 19 and Italy on March 20.