Wolf Of Wall Street rules international box office on $27m

The dark comedy starring Golden Globe winner Leonardo DiCaprio arrived at number one in the UK through Universal Pictures International (UPI) on $7.6m from 499 theatres to score Martin Scorsese’s biggest opening weekend and DiCaprio’s second biggest debut.

All eight new markets through Universal delivered number one results and $20.6m as the UPI running total climbed to $25.5m. Factoring in Red Granite International licensees, which accounted for a further $6.4m, Wolf’s overall running total stands at $58m.

Germany generated $6.4m from 502 for a Scorsese record, while Spain produced $3.4m from 305 for another new benchmark for the director. Universal handles both markets.

Despicable Me 2 generated $9m in its second weekend in China in 4,500 sites through UPI to reach $32.7m. The international running total stands at $586.1m.

47 Ronin added $5.5m from 45 territories for $78.5m and opened in six new locales including Australia on $1.6m. The English-language German title The Physician (Der Medicus) added $3.9m from four territories to stand at $37.1m and has reached $32.5m in Germany after four weekends.

• Disney’s Frozen added $24.6m to boost the running total to $426.5m. The Golden Globe-winning animation, now also nominated for an Oscar, arrived at number two in South Korea and scored the biggest launch for a Disney-Pixar release on $8.9m.

Frozen has produced $759.1m worldwide and $55.9m in the UK, $43.9m in Germany, $40.3m in France, $32.1m in Russia, $26m in Italy, $24.5m in Australia, $23.5m in Mexico, $19.8m in Spain and $15.6m in Brazil. It opens in China on February 5 and Japan on March 15. Saving Mr Banks has grossed $12.1m for the early stages of release.

• Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit opened day-and-date with North America in 29 territories and generated an estimated $22.2m through Paramount Pictures International.

IMAX top brass reported $1.5m from 214 screens and the worldwide tally is projected to reach $5m for the weekend.

Kenneth Branagh directed Chris Pine, Keira Knightley and Kevin Costner in the spy thriller reboot and the film ranked number one in 13 locales led by a boisterous $9.5m from 4,000 screens in China.

Shadow Recruit infiltrated Russia on $2m from 1,050 for number one, Australia on $2m from 227, Mexico on $1.2m from 456 for number two and South Korea on $1.8m from 350. Also of note was a number one Malaysian debut that produced $540,000 from 87 sites.

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones added $6m from 4,161 venues in 40 markets to boost the running total to $43.9m. In its second weekend the horror film added $1.1m in Brazil for $3.8m and $925,000 in Russia for $5.4m. Mexico has produced $5.7m after three sessions. Anchorman 2 stands at $41.7m.

• Chinese animation Boonie Bears grossed $15m.
• Warner Bros-New Line-MGM’s The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug took another stride towards $600m following an estimated $10.9m weekend haul through Warner Bros Pictures International. The fantasy epic stands at $585m overall and has reached $84m in Germany after six weekends, $68.1m in the UK after six and $31m in Australia after four. It is set to open in China on February 21 and Japan on February 28.
• The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty crossed $100m through Fox International as $8m from 57 markets elevated the tally to $105.8m.

The Book Thief added $5.3m from 16 for an early $11.3m and stands at $5.5m in Australia and $2.9m in Spain, both after two sessions. The WW2 drama debuted in Mexico on $1m from 386 and Russia on $515,153 from 724.

Reliance Big and BBC Earth’s Walking With Dinosaurs brought in a further $4.3m from 52 markets to reach $72.1m and opened in Brazil on $1.3m from 302. The running total includes $9.9m from those markets licensed by IM Global.

Horror film Devils’ Due opened day-and-date with North America in six markets led by the UK on $1.5m from 333 for number five. The Counselor has grossed $51.6m.

• Sony Pictures Releasing International senior executives reported that Nicht Mein Tag opened in Germany on $2.4m from 408 in third place and Austria on $145,000 from 73 for number five. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 grossed $1.9m from 31 markets for $136.6m

Multiple Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner American Hustle took $1.2m from 11 markets for an early $1.3m following a $1m number three Mexican debut on 500. The international running total including territories licensed by Panorama stands at more than $35m. The film recently became director and co-writer David O Russell’s biggest hit in the UK on more than $12m.