A dearth of wideinternational launches meant that holdovers were left to do battle over the NewYear weekend.

BVI's TheIncredibles regained the chart lead over the final weekend of the 2004 boxoffice year (Dec 31-Jan 2) and is fast approaching the $300m mark.

It was a goodweekend for BVI, which saw a set of new territory openings for JerryBruckheimer/Nicolas Cage title National Treasure. Debuts in South Korea,Sweden, Mexico and Russia were amongst the launches last weekend which added$16.6m for a $79.7m. The film should hit the $100m in the next week.

That magic markwas found by two Warner Bros titles last weekend bringing the final tally offilms released in 2004 achieving $100m internationally to 21 (see separate ScreenDaily.comstory)

Another strongweekend for Ocean's Twelve took the caper sequel past the $100minternational mark and into second place on the chart. The film has seen a fastinternational roll-out since launching in Australia on Dec 9 and now runs in 49territories with a few majors remaining including Japan and the UK (where itconcludes its roll-out on Feb 4).

Its predecessor,2001's Ocean's Eleven grossed $267.3m from international marketsrepresenting 59% of worldwide grosses. Ocean's Twelve's internationalgross is currently level-pegging with North America having taken $107.3mcompared to the North America tally of $107.01m

Warner stablemate ThePolar Express also passed $100m at the weekend. It is director RobertZemeckis' eighth film to gross $100m from international markets. As with hislast three titles, international totals look likely to finish slightly short ofNorth America which currently stands at $155.1m. Cast Away, What LiesBeneath and Contact finished with 46/54, 47/53 and 41/59international/North American percentage splits respectively.

Stephen Chow's KungFu Hustle has seen two strong weeks across Asia for Sony Pictures ReleasingInternational and slipped just 22% in its second week. The film has alreadytaken $35.1m after ten days on release and is fast approaching the $43m takenby the director's last title Shaolin Soccer.

Hayao Miyazaki'slatest animated marvel Howl's Moving Castle also remains strong. Thefilm opened in South Korea over the Christmas weekend and slipped just 28% inits second weekend for a ten day $9.5m total from 230 screens and is just days away from becoming the best selling Japanese film of all time in Korea. With itsJapanese gross the film has now taken $134.9m from the two territories. Itcrossed $100m just prior to Christmas.

South Korea alsoplayed a key role in Alexander's box office boost this weekend. A poleposition in the territory brought a $4.7m four-day weekend from 250 screens. Astrong second week in Germany, slipping just 9%, also helped the title, whichlaunches in multiple European territories including France, Belgum, Spain andthe UK on Friday (Jan 7).

For fullinternational box office chart, click here

The international table iscompiled each week by Leonard Klady for Screen International.