Foreign Box Office: 'Hangover III' Dominates Weekend With $82.3 Million

"Hangover Part III"

The final installment in the R-rated comedy franchise is pacing well ahead of the first two films in many key markets, helping to make up for a lackluster domestic showing; "Fast & Furious 6" continues to do stellar business around the globe.

A crowded weekend at the international box office saw Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' The Hangover Part III claiming the spoils as it made its first major foreign push, grossing $82.3 million from 54 markets for an early foreign total of $110.7 million.

The film's offshore performance is helping to make up for a lackluster showing in North America, where the final installment in Todd Phillips' R-rated franchise took in $15.9 million in its second weekend for a domestic total of $88.1 million, compared to $185.5 million for The Hangover Part II.

All told, the film has now earned $198.9 million worldwide, fueled by its overseas showing. Highlights include Germany, where the threequel grossed $15 million, the biggest opening of the year and the top opening of all time for an American comedy, pacing 28 percent ahead of Hangover II.
Hangover III took in $9.3 million as it opened in Russia, claiming the No. 1 spot and coming in more than 100 percent ahead of Hangover II. In France, the comedy grossed $6.6 million, 24 percent ahead of the sequel.
In the three holdover markets where it opened last weekend, the threequel saw strong results, especially in the U.K., where it grossed $4.5 million to place No. 1.
Warner Bros. and Legendary are hopeful that the comedy will match the $332.3 million earned by Hangover II internationally, but the goal remains a question mark.
Universal's Fast & Furious 6 placed No. 2 internationally with $75 million from 63 markets, pushing the pic's international total to a glowing $310.2 million and worldwide haul to $480.6 million. The action film scored a record opening in New Zealand with $1.3 million and $436,000 in Trinidad.
Fast 6 held well against the onslaught of Hangover III, remaining No. 1 in Latin America and Asia. Within a month, it's expected to surpass the $416 million earned by Fast 5 at the foreign box office. Remaining major markets where it has yet to open include Australia, Japan and China.
In North America, Fast 6 easily stayed at No. 1 in its second weekend, grossing $34.5 million for a domestic total of $170.2 million. And worldwide, it was No. 1 for the weekend with total grosses of $105.9 million, versus $98.2 million for Hangover III.
Paramount's Star Trek Into Darkness also fared well as it continued to expand overseas, grossing $37.6 million from 44 markets for an international total of $147.4 million, the best showing ever for the sci-fi franchise, which has never been as popular overseas. The film, directed by J.J. Abrams, has earned $328.6 million worldwide and has yet to open in Japan, Brazil, France, Italy and Spain.

Fox's 3D family animated pic Epic placed No. 4 overseas, grossing a solid $28.5 million from 57 markets for a foreign total of $86.3 million and worldwide cume of $151.6 million.
Epic was followed by Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby, from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures. The adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel grossed $22.6 million from 56 markets for an international total of $120 million, almost on par with the film's domestic total of $128.3 million.
Weekend highlights included a $6.7 million opening in Australia, Luhrmann's home country, and a $1.9 million opening in Mexico, Lurhmann's highest showing. Gatsby opens in Japan on June 14.
Box office observers believe that Gatsby will ultimately match the $195 million grossed internationally by Sex and the City 2.