Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) enjoyed a powerful weekend at the international box office, topping charts in nine territories as it unleashed US megahit Erin Brockovich and continued the rollout of family smash Stuart Little.

Erin Brockovich, on to which CTFDI parent Sony Pictures Entertainment was invited as a financing and distribution partner by Universal Pictures, grossed $9.16m in its opening weekend in seven territories including $3m on 838 screens in Germany and $2.55m on 419 screens in the UK. In Australia, where it merely previewed on 159 screens, it was the number four picture in the country - taking $0.56m.

CTFDI is releasing Erin Brockovich, which has now grossed nearly $90m in the domestic market through Universal, in virtually every international territory throughout April, except for Japan, which is preparing for Golden Week at the end of April, where it will open in June.

Next weekend, territories opening Erin include Australia & New Zealand, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Mexico and Argentina among others. The following weekend (Apr 21-23), it will bow in Brazil and a host of smaller territories.

Meanwhile Stuart Little topped the charts in Italy and Australia where it opened last weekend. The family movie grossed $1.75m on 313 screens in Australia, marking the second biggest CTFDI opening in history after Men In Black. In Italy, it opened to $0.977m on 253 screens. The movie's international total is now just shy of $50m and it has yet to open in major territories such as Japan, UK, Germany and Spain. In North America, Stuart Little has to date grossed $140m.

ERIN BROCKOVICH OPENING WEEKEND GROSSES ACROSS EUROPE (APR 7-9)

Germany $3,009,901 (838 screens)
UK $2,555,444 (419 screens)
Spain $1,596,360 (302 screens)
Austria $495,493 (94 screens)
Sweden $413,381 (79 screens)
Switzerland $371,249 (42 screens)
Portugal $158,871 (45 screens)