The Last Samurai is expected to pass $100m at the international boxoffice on Monday (12) after an estimated $30.6m weekend haul raised the AmericaCivil War era drama's running total to $98.6m.

In its sixth weekend inJapan the film continued its exceptional run, adding $4.9m (Yen 529.9) for a$73.4m (Yen 8bn) running total there. It is contesting the number one spot withFinding Nemo and official rankings will be confirmed this week.

In Europe Samuraigrossed $23.7m from its first nine openings. Key results were $5.7m from 600prints in Italy for first place and the distributor's fourth biggest Italianbow ever and the industry's seventh biggest three-day weekend ever.

It took $5.2m from 425 inSpain, opening top for Warner Bros Pictures International's fifth biggest bowever. It opened second in the UK behind Return Of The King on $4.9m from430.

Germany produced $4.7m from829 screens for second place behind Return Of The King and there werenumber one bows in Austria ($718,000 from 96 prints) and the German-speakingparts of Switzerland ($609,000 from 65).

In Portugal the film openedtop on $679,000 from 74 for the distributor's fifth biggest Portuguese bow everand the industry's all-time eighth biggest bow.

Korea produced $1.8m from200 screens nationwide, including previews, for a second place ranking.