The psychological thriller Gothikabegan its international run in France at the weekend, where it opened on astrong $2.5m and was a close contender for top spot against Return Of The King.

Executive at ColumbiaTriStar Film Distributors International (CTFDI) said the film scored roughlythe same as Panic Room and I Know What You Did Last Summer andwere looking ahead to its Asian and remaining European openings.

The distributor chose Franceas the launch territory in honour of the film's French director MathieuKassovitz.