CTFDI's action thriller XXX scored nine number one openings in Europe and beyond over the weekend, grossing an estimated $18.2m from 4,300 screens. To date the picture has notched up 40 international number one bows and showed little sign of slowing down over the weekend. In the UK it scored a tremendous number one opening of $5.2m from 607 screens, including previews - roughly 6% bigger than Red Dragon and about the same as The Matrix. Continued good business is expected throughout the week due to the mid-term school holidays. It also opened top of the charts in Germany with $4.7m from 937 screens. This was roughly 250% bigger than the amount taken by the second ranked picture and beat the Signs opening by 22%, Rush Hour 2 by 14% and Tomb Raider by 12%.

XXX also opened number one in Spain, Switzerland, Austria, India, Finland, Portugal and Uruguay. In Spain it took $2.3m from 452 screens, which if estimates hold up would be a higher territory opening than Tomb Raider, The Matrix and the last two James Bond pictures. Switzerland registered the fifth biggest industry opening of the year in the territory, with $725,000 from 89 screens yielding an impressive $8,100 per-theatre average. The opening was roughly 25% higher than Signs. In Austria the picture grossed $700,000 while in India it enjoyed a $580,000 haul from 223 screens, higher than the studio's launch of Men In Black II. Overall XXX has a $55.6m international cumulative score and is expected to finish in the $100m-$150m range. Worldwide tally now stands at $200m. "I'm glad for Vin [Diesel], glad for Joe Roth and glad for everybody at Revolution," said Mark Zucker, CTFDI senior executive vice president. Roth's Revolution Studios produced the picture.

Meanwhile Stuart Little 2 took $3m from 2,600 international screens for an $80m running total. In France the family sequel opened in second place behind Signs with $1.5m and is expected to stay the course once the 12-day autumn school holidays begin on Oct 23. Stuart also opened second in Sweden with $265,000. School holidays there run Oct 26-Nov 3. Stuart has been steadily increasing its tally over a long international run that began on July 20 in Japan and continues into December when it is scheduled to open in Brazil. It is expected to finish around $90m.

Gross-out comedy The Sweetest Thing enjoyed a $1.9m weekend haul for a $36.4m international cumulative total. In its second week in Germany it took $1.3m, down only 21% on the previous week, for a $3.8m cumulative score. The picture is expected to finish its international run in the mid-to-high $40m range.