Dracula Untold was the top Hollywood international release last weekend on $33.9m and Universal Pictures International top brass will look for strong holds to retain pole position.

A repeat performance will not be easy, however. Fox International gives its animation The Book Of Life a big push to coincide with the North America release.

The film, directed by Jorge Gutierrez and produced by Guillermo del Toro, arrives in a swathe of Latin America including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.

Another animation is expected to make waves as Ice Age: The Meltdown – 3D debuts in China.

Dream Flight lands in Taiwan and Epic checks into Japan.

Gone Girl opens in a handful of Middle Eastern markets and has grossed $74.5m, while The Maze Runner on $145.2m opens in France and Germany and A Walk Among The Tombstones opens in Russia.

Warner Bros Pictures International’s horror title Annabelle has raced to $72.2m and will continue to surge towards the $100m mark this weekend.

Toronto opener The Judge starring Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall debuts in the UK, Germany, Russia and Brazil and is in the early stages of release. Into The Storm and Dolphin Tale 2 have grossed $110.8m and $10.8m, respectively.

Guardians Of The Galaxy has crossed $700m worldwide following last weekend’s mighty debut in China, where it is expected to maintain pace. The Marvel Studios film has grossed $378.4m through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.

Sony Pictures Releasing International opens Vampire Sisters 2 (Die Vampirschwestern 2 – Fledermaeuse Im Bauch) in German-speaking Europe, while The Equalizer arrives in Spain and Argentina.

There are four Sony debuts in Brazil: Mr Turner, Land Ho!, The Skeleton Twins and Aloft (Vuela No Llores). Stalingrad breaks into Australia.

Nicholas Sparks adaptation The Best Of Me opens in 11 territories day-and-date with this weekend’s US debut through Relativity Media.

The Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden romance arrives in the UK and Benelux through eOne and the Middle East through Gulf Film. Relativity International licensed rights.