M NightShyamalan's latestmystery The Village launches in its first major markets in the UK and France this weekendthrough Buena Vista International (BVI).

While thepicture's domestic performance has been below par by Shyamalan'sstandards, international prospects should be promising. The picture opened in Franceon Aug 18 and goes out in the UK on Aug 20.

Thedirector's previous release Signs opened top in both markets in the autumn of 2002,grossing $5.9m in 443 UK sites and $3.7m on 699 French screens.

BVIexecutives will look to a strong German opening to push King Arthur towards $100m. The epic opened onAug 19 and has grossed $76.4m to date.

Thedistributor also released comedy remake The Ladykillers in Australia on Aug 19. Currentinternational cumulative total for the picture is $34m.

Fox International's live action comedy Garfield opened in Germany on Aug 19 on 610 prints and opens in South Korea on Aug 20 on 140. The picture has grossed $38.9m to date.

The sci-fi thriller I, Robot has no major openings this weekend and has taken $115.9m so far. It opens in Japan on Sept 18 and Italy in October.

Universal's action sequel The Chronicles of Riddick went out throughUIP in France on Aug 18 on 400 screens and opens in Italy two days later on203. The picture has taken $11.7m.

TheBourne Supremacyopens in South Korea on Aug 20 on 150 and Taiwan a day later on 75 and hasgrossed $6.7m following its UK debut last weekend.

UIP is also releasing the DreamWorks thriller Collateraland the Universal drama Two Brothers in Mexico on Aug 20,and Shrek 2 in Russia on the same day.

Catwoman opened in Germany on Aug 17 throughWarner Bros Pictures International and has amassed $10.7m from 18 markets todate.

Latest international running totals released by executives put Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban on $508.6m, and Troy on $357.7m.

Details ofColumbia TriStar Film Distributors International releases were unavailable attime of going to press.