NewLine International's The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The Kinggrossed $20.7m from 6,353 screens in 58 territories at the weekend to raise itsinternational cumulative total to $572.8m.

Thekey driver was Italy, where in its second weekend the film added $7.2m anddropped only 30% from last weekend's record-breaking opening. The territorytotal now stands at $23.7m.

Itheld well in its second weekend in Russia, adding $2.4m and dropping only 31%for $8.4m. After 11 days the final instalment has grossed 94% of the finalamount taken by trilogy predecessor The Two Towers.

Return Of The King is tracking 27% higher than The Two Towersthrough the same period and has already outgrossed that film in 47 of itsterritories, including every major market except Italy, Mexico and Japan, whereit is due to open on Feb 14.