XXx: TheNext Level took the lead on theinternational table this week.

However, The Next Level's lead was marred by its relatively weak performance($15m) given its 60 plus territory release count. The action title, the firstof the summer's major day-and-date releases, saw openings range fromfirst places (including Germany and Spain) to a lowly tenth in Argentina.

In second The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy had some lessons to teach its more bombastic cousin,taking leads in all three of its international launch territories (UK,Australia, New Zealand) for a stellar $8.6m weekend in addition to office itsNorth American lead.

The Next Level looksunlikely to finish on even half the $135.3m international box total of the 2002original, which earned 49% of worldwide grosses from international territories,but given first week performances it could still end up taking moreinternationally than in North America - a previously rare event for thissort of title.

Looming like a spectre over the film is former xXx star Vin Diesel. Diesel is currently riding high onthe international chart with comedy The Pacifier ($40.8m) which has already passed $100m in the US.

Rubbing salt in the wound in some smaller territories TheNext Level opened against ThePacifier in The Netherlands and was easilycrushed by Diesel's picture which claimed $225,650 at 67 screens comparedto Next Level's $125,890from 63. In New Zealand xXxopened behind Pacifier in itsthird week. The Pacifier has onlyreleased in 29 territories and has several major markets to come includingFrance and the UK.

Other embarassments for the sequel included opening secondin Italy to romantic drama Head In The Clouds, and losing out to not just local title Anthony Zimmer but also fellow action title Hostage, starring Bruce Willis, in France.

Elsewhere on the chart South Korean chart leader InnocentSteps managed seventh on the internationalchart while Japanese franchise titles Detective Conan: Strategy AboveDepths and Crayon Shinchan 13 saw local boosts reinvigorating their internationalperformances.

Meanwhile German smash Downfall (Der Untergang) is on the verge of $75m after re-entering theinternational chart over the weekend, appropriately the 60th anniversary ofHitler's death.

The film opened in Italy through 01 Distribuzione at theweekend taking seventh place with a strong $303,554 (Euro 236,450) performanceat 80 screens. Its holdovers also continue unabated. In the UK it has justbecome the highest grossing German film of all time through Momentum Pictures($2.5m).

Most impressive are the Nordic territories through SandrewMetronome. In Norway it has grossed $2.7m (NKR 17.2m) after 11 weeks, not farbehind the blockbuster likes of Shark Tale ($3.15after 19 weeks). In Denmark the drama remains in second place in its eighthweek and has earned $3.25m (DKR 18.8m). Sweden has recently seen thedistributor double the film's screen count and now stands at $617,820after 10 weeks.