New Line International's The Lord of The Rings: TheReturn of The King continued to rule themall in Japan for the ninth consecutive weekend, adding $1.6m from 589 screensto raise its total there to a superb $86.2m.

The trilogyfinale is active in 48 markets on 1,874 screens but figures were hard to comeby given that Easter holidays extended through to Monday in many places.

Nonetheless thedistributor reported a $1.9m weekend gross with updated results expected laterthis week.

Return Of TheKing has amassed $729.5mat the international box office and $1.1bn worldwide.