Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI)'s Double Vision followed its chart-topping $1m record opening for a thriller in Taiwan with an impressive third weekend $67,968 haul that brings its cumulative score to $1.91m nationwide including previews. The picture, which is billed as Seven with a Taoist twist, took $1m including previews from 60 screens when it opened on Oct 26. It was the best ever bow for a thriller in the territory, beating the recent releases of Hollywood giants What Lies Beneath, Red Dragon and Hannibal. Despite securing a number one ranking in its first two weeks the picture slipped to joint second over the weekend.

Double Vision held on to top spot in its second week in Malaysia for a $376,709 cumulative score including previews. It opened in second place in Singapore with $181,920 for a $277,150 running total including previews.

Sal Ladestro, senior vice president of marketing and distribution for local language productions and acquisitions, said in a statement: "We are thrilled with Double Vision's incredible opening thus far. We hope the film's early success in Taiwan and Malaysia are a precursor to how well we will perform in the rest of Asia and around the world."

The picture was produced by Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, Sony Pictures Entertainment's Asia-based production arm, and screened in the Un Certain regard section at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It was directed by Chen Kuo-Fu and stars Tony Leung Ka Fai and American actor David Morse as law enforcement officers on the trail of a gruesome killer. The picture opens in Hong Kong on Dec 5.