China holds the key to Deathly Hallows $800m target

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 stood at $723m by Thursday and while there is still plenty of fuel in the tank, it faces a tough showdown with Fox International’s Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Marvel’s Captain America through Paramount Pictures International (PPI) and Sony Pictures Releasing International’s The Smurfs.

Warner Bros’ Horrible Bosses meanwhile stands at $16.5m and arrives this weekend in Russia, Brazil and Mexico. Green Lantern has grossed $42m.

Fox International launches Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes arrives day-and-date with North America in around 30 markets including Australia, Russia, Taiwan and Singapore and will be a strong contender for the weekend crown.

Mr Popper’s Penguins on $72.5m arrives in the UK, while Monte Carlo has grossed $4.4m and opens in Germany.

Captain America: The First Avenger has raced to $72.3m internationally and touches down in 10 new markets, among them Spain, Hong Kong and South Africa.

Earlier this week Transformers: Dark Of The Moon became the tenth film to cross $1bn at the worldwide box office. It has amassed $670.4m outside North America and opens in Indonesia.

Expect some action too from Super 8, which opens in 12 including the UK, Germany, Mexico, France and French-speaking Switzerland and has grossed $62.1m.

The Smurfs has grossed more than $3.8m and opens in around 30 territories including France, Germany, Argentina, Hong Kong, Mexico and Brazil. Sony’s Bad Teacher and Zookeeper have grossed more than $81.7m and $42.1m, respectively.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s Cars 2 stands at $235.4m and opens this weekend in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides has grossed $798m.

Universal’s comedy Bridesmaids has taken $84.9m through UPI and Fast And Furious Five is on $394.7m.