The weekend international box office champion looks likely to be Tom Cruise action thriller Oblivion, which opens through Universal across most of the world.

Joseph Kosinski’s sci-fi spectacle touches down in approximately 66 territories including the UK, Germany, Australia, Russia, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Sweden and Argentina.

North American audiences will have to wait until Apr 19 before they witness Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko in action.

Paramount Pictures International’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation will relinquish its grasp on the number one spot but will remain a potent force as it drives towards $175m. The film currently stands at more than $150m.

Fox International, due to cross $1bn at the box office for the year-to-date on Friday, has DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods in active circulation and the family film has reached $225, while A Good Day To Die Hard stands at $235m.

Sony Pictures Releasing International top brass said Django Unchained has reached $256.5m, while Evil Dead is in the early stages at $6m.

Chinese authorities pulled Quentin Tarantino’s revenge Western from theatres after it opened on Thursday for reasons that remain unclear.

A Sony spokesman issued the following statement: “We regret that Django Unchained has been removed from theaters and are working with the Chinese authorities to determine whether the film can be rescheduled.”

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International’s Oz The Great And Powerful stands at $245.2m and Wreck-It Ralph $279.3m.

Warner Bros Pictures International’s Jack The Giant Slayer has reached $121m, while Lionsgate reported that Warm Bodies has grossed more than $44m and Beautiful Creatures more than $39.4m.

HanWay Films reported that Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut Quartet has amassed more than $50m worldwide including a $17.3m haul from North America through The Weinstein Company.

The $33m gross through HanWay licensees marks the UK company’s second biggest film.