King Kong is in pole position heading into the holiday weekendas impressive weekday business boosted last weekend's mighty $82.8m globallaunch to $113.5m.

Universal's three-hour epic has no major releases scheduled through UIP thisweekend, however the picture's strong word of mouth should ensure solid holdsand be enough to fend off the considerable challenge of The Chronicles OfNarnia.

That picture, released through Buena Vista International (BVI), has stormed offto a great start in its first few weeks and is anticipated to cross $100m onFriday [23].

It currently stands at $91m and opens in a further 13 territories this weekend,including France on Dec 21, Italy and Russia on Dec 23, and Australia on Dec26.

Narnia will become thedistributor's fourth picture to gross more than $100m this calendar year, afterNational Treasure, TheIncredibles, and Flightplan, which is still active and currently stands at$103m.

Meanwhile BVI's animated romp Chicken Little has grossed $70m so far and launches in Hong Kongand New Zealand on Dec 22, and Japan on Dec 24.

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fireis in the throes of winding down after a superb run for Warner Bros PicturesInternational.

The children's fantasy adventure currently stands at $469.5m and has overtaken StarWars: Episode III - The Revenge Of The Sith ($468.2m through Fox International) to become thisyear's highest grossing international release.

Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) has a mixed bag of titles thisweekend, kicking off with the first international releases on Fun With DickAnd Jane.

The comedy remake opens day-and-date with North America in Japan and Australiaon Dec 24 and 26 respectively.

The Producers, which goes onlimited release in North America this weekend through Universal Pictures,launches in the UK on Dec 26. SPRI holds all international rights.

The distributor is releasing Memoirs Of A Geisha in the first SPRI territory of Sweden on Dec 25,just as the picture expands wide in North America.

Children's fantasy Zathura, whichhas generated $4.2m from the early stages of its run, goes out in Mexico on Dec25. The Exorcism Of Emily Rosehas amassed more than $57m so far.

Fox International opens the comedy remake Cheaper By The Dozen 2 day-and-date with North America in its first territories of Australia on Dec 22 on 220 prints, Spain on Dec 23 on 305, and the UK on Dec 26 on 340.

Executives will be looking to beat the $52.6m final international gross of the original, which launched almost two years ago to the day.

The Family Stone opens in six territories including Mexico on Dec 23 and has taken more than $3.6m from the early stages of its run. Bee Season has two small releases in Japan and Brazil on Dec 23.

Latest cumulative totals released by Fox International executives put Transporter 2 on $36.6m through all distributors, In Her Shoes on $43.8m, and Into The Blue on $20.8m.