Ice Age: The Meltdown burned through the international marketplace this weekend,grossing an estimated $43.4m through Fox International on 4,571 screens in 29territories.

Records toppled around the world as the animated sequel stormed tonumber one in every territory, mirroring its dominance in North America whereit took an estimated $70.5m.

The weekend result does not include $4.1m in previews from the UK,where Ice Age: The Meltdown is expected to generate mighty numbers when it opens proper nextweekend.

Meanwhile Basic Instinct 2,released through various distributors, generated $10.2m on 2,956 screens in 29markets, while Universal's Inside Man added $8.8m in 1,772 sites in 27 territories through UIPfor $22.5m.

Ice Age: The Meltdown set new industry opening records in four territories in LatinAmerica, taking $8.3m on 1,083 screens in Mexico, $1.2m on 134 in Argentina,$531,000 on 80 in Venezuela, and $278,000 on 30 in Ecuador.

Results in Europe were also impressive. Russia led the rampage asthe picture produced $7.6m on 460 and Fox's biggest ever opening day and thesecond biggest opening day for a US picture.

Spain generated $6.2m on 450 for the second biggest industry debutfor an animated title, while Poland confirmed its status as a booming marketwith $1.6m on 107 that was Fox International's biggest ever animated debut andthe industry's second biggest animated debut ever.

Holland generated $1.3m on 189 for the industry's second biggestanimated debut ever, while the same amount in Belgium on 120 delivered thebiggest industry animated debut of all time.

Sweden's $1.3m on 159 and Finland's $442,000 on 56 in Finland weresufficient to secure new industry records for an animated debut. In theAsia/Pacific region Ice Age: The Meltdown generated $1.2m on 178 in Taiwan, $783,000 on 114 in thePhilippines, and $639,000 on 55 in Singapore.

Brazil, Puerto Rico and Uruguay generated all-time openingmarks for Fox International, grossing $3.9m on 507, $1.1m on 84, and $61,000 on15 respectively.

Elsewhere Chile and Peru produced $1.2m on 70 and $693,000 on 99respectively for the industry's second biggest debut ever, while Portugalopened on $375,000 on 66.

Colombia produced $822,000 on 120, South Africa generated $686,000on 89, Malaysia produced $377,000 on 65, and Central America produced $759,000on 163.

Fox International's comedy The Pink Panther added approximately $4m for $66minternational running total.

"We are ecstatic about the phenomenal international numbersfor Ice Age: The Meltdown," Fox International co-president Paul Hanneman said.

"We have a tremendous film to work with, but we arealso incredibly proud of our team which has achieved record-breaking results inmany territories. With 30+ markets still to release next week, we couldn't bemore excited with this opening."

Basic Instinct 2 opened in third place in Italy on $1.5m through Warner Bros, andscored openings in the region of $1m in Spain and Russia.

Germany generated $820,000 through Constantin, while Argentina produced$172,000 for second place through Buena Vista International (BVI).

Fox International holds rights in Australia and New Zealand, whereexecutives said results were in the several hundred thousand region.

Inside Man raised its running total by $8.8m to $22.5m after 11 days throughUIP. The highlight was a $1.8m number one Australian debut in 194 sites thatproduced Universal's biggest opening of 2006 Down Under.

The picture stayed top in the UK on $1.9m from 354 for $6.5m, andalso stayed number one in Germany on $1.5m from 297 for $4.3m.

Brazil ranks second on $1.5m after two weekends, as does Mexico on$1.3m. Denmark, Norway and Sweden opened on $170,000 from 25, $165,000 from 29,and $180,000 from 40 respectively.

Nanny McPhee added $1m for $63.3m, while Pride & Prejudice added $650,000 for $77.8m including$3.2m from France. King Kong stands at $329m after 16 weeks.

Paramount's Failure To Launch grossed $4.4m from 1,410 sites in 15territories through UIP to raise the cumulative tally to $13.8m.

The romantic comedy opened in third place in the UK on $1.9m from353 sites, and opened in Italy on $665,000 on 194.

Warner Bros Pictures International's V For Vendetta added $5.1m from 32 markets for a $25mrunning total. It opened in second place in Australia on $1.2m on 202 screens,second place in New Zealand on $147,700.

After three weekends V For Vendetta has taken $5.3m in the UK, $2.4m inGermany, $2.6m in Italy, and $883,600 in Sweden.

Firewall added$3.1m from 14 markets for $18.5m, powered by a $794,500 UK debut on 281 prints,$710,900 on 172 in Japan, and $450,500 on 303 in Germany.

BVI's The Chronicles Of Narnia raised its running total by $3.5m to$436m. Japan stayed top for the fifth weekend in a row on $3.1m for $48m.

The Shaggy Dog added $2.4m for $8.6m, powered by a $1.4m debut in the UK.Australia has grossed $1.8m after four weekends. Eight Below grossed $2m for a$7.2m tally.

Sony Pictures Releasing International's Fun With Dick And Jane opened in its final major market of SouthKorea on $1.4m on 160 screens and ranked number two behind the local title AlmostLove. The picture nowstands at $89m.

Sony's horrortitle Hostel added$2.1m for $19.5m, raising its UK total by $1.3m to $4.8m after two weekends.