Cars 2 dominated the international arena as a $42.9m weekend haul based on estimates from the first wave of 18 markets set up the latest Pixar release for what looks to be another big run.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s staggered release pattern is typical for Pixar releases of late and the results have vindicated the policy: in recent years Toy Story 3 and Up have amassed $648.2m and $438.3m, respectively.

Combined with the $68m North American launch the global tally after three days stands at $110.9m. The key drivers were Russia on $9.3m for the biggest Pixar launch and Disney’s second biggest animated debut behind Tangled. The release has already surpassed the entire run of Cars by a factor of 2.5.

Cars 2 grossed $8.1m in Mexico for the second biggest Pixar launch behind Toy Story 3; $7.6m in Brazil for the biggest Pixar debut; $5.7m in Italy over five days; and $5.2m in Australia for Disney’s third biggest animated launch. Other notable debuts produced $1.8m in Colombia and $1.1m in Panama.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides added $13.5m as the behemoth reached $756.1m internationally and $985.2m globally. It should cross $1bn at the worldwide box office by next weekend.

Already confirmed as the third biggest international release in history behind Titanic and Avatar, Pirates 4 ranks as the eighth biggest global release and has in its sights The Dark Knight on $1.001.9bn and Disney stablemate Alice In Wonderland on $1.024.3bn.

  • DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 2 brought in a further $32.9m through PPI from 10,467 locations in 46 countries for a $336m international running total. The only new debut was in Australia, where the adventure yarn took $4.8m including previews from 259 sites.

Germany led holdover business on $4.4m from 700 for $12.9m, followed by France where $3.7m from 884 in the second weekend was good enough for first place and a $12.1m tally.

Elsewhere Kung Fu Panda 2 stands at $38.3m in South Korea after five weekends, $18.8m in the UK after three and $15.8m in Brazil after three. Mexico has generated $17.3m, Spain $6.1m and Argentina $6.6m.

Super 8 grossed $9.9m from 2,373 in 26 countries for an early $35.6m running total and opened top in Japan on $4.9m from 323 locales. The sci-fi mystery added $1.9m in Russia from 601 for $7.6m after two weekends and $1m in Australia from 237 for $7.2m.

  • Warner Bros Pictures International’s The Hangover Part II took a confirmed $16.5m from 5,574 screens in 56 markets for $284m. The comedy opened top in Spain on $2.9m from 671 screens including previews.

After five weekends it has reached $50.5m in the UK, $32.3m in Australia, $20.1m in France, $14.5 in Brazil, $13.2m in Italy and $11.6m in Mexico. After four it stands at $36.9m in Germany and $12.9m in Russia.

The Green Lantern added $7m from close to 3,000 screens in 16 markets as the running total climbed to an early $29.3m. The film added $1.8m in the UK for $7.7m after two weekends and opens in Germany and Spain this weekend.

  • X-Men: First Class crossed $300m worldwide for Fox and stands at $187.3m overseas through Fox International following a confirmed $13.2m weekend from 6,914 screens in 68 markets. After four weekends the UK has generated $22.6m, South Korea $16.1m, France $15.9m, Australia $14.1m, Brazil $13.3m and Mexico $12.6m.

Mr Popper’s Penguins opened in 11 markets and earned $3.1m, most of which came from Germany on $1.2m from 594. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules stands at $17.5m and Black Swan has reached $220.3m.

  • Sony Pictures Releasing International’s R-rated Cameron Diaz comedy Bad Teacher got off to a great start day-and-date with North America in select territories, grossing $12.9m from approximately 1,500 screens in 24 markets led by a powerhouse number one launch in Germany on $6.1m from 466.

The film added $1.9m in the UK from 441 in its second weekend for $7.3m. It also opened top in Austria on $975,000 from 70, Holland on $900,000 from 77 and Belgium on $650,000 from 45.

  • Universal’s smash R-rated comedy Bridesmaids burst into 11 new territories to earn a confirmed $11.3m from 1,200 sites and push the early running total to $21.1m. It opened top in the UK on an excellent $5.5m from 482 and took third place in Russia on $1.3m from 333.

Australia led the holdover business and continues to reward the film handsomely, producing a further $3.9m from 234 venues for $12.6m

Fast And Furious Five added $1.4m from 1,800 in 47 for a magnificent $389m, which rises to $596.7m worldwide combining the $207.7m North American run. Japan will be the final release in October and should push the global figure past $600m.

Honey 2 has grossed $2.5m overseas while The Adjustment Bureau is on $57.6m through UPI, Senna $5.8m and The Debt $1.1m. Hop stands at $69.2m.

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