Wedding Singer, DiCaprio Hot At Foreign Box Office

SYDNEY (Variety) - Australian audiences toasted "The Wedding Singer" in its international debut last weekend, while Leonardo DiCaprio's one-two punch in "Titanic" and "The Man in the Iron Mask" continued to pack 'em in overseas. In a patchy period for new releases, "The Devil's Advocate" had a bedevilled bow in Japan, in line with its so-so North American results; "U.S. Marshals" had unexceptional launches in four markets; and "The Edge" fell over in Germany. "Titanic" hauled in $25.4 million from 57 territories, and the foreign total soared to $978.3 million. Expect James Cameron's phenomenon to hit $1 billion as early as this weekend. The dizzying totals include Japan's $122.8 million, France's $117.1 million, Germany's $113.6 million and Brazil's $56.7 million. Fox Intl.'s blockbuster now stands as the biggest U.S. release ever in China, pocketing $3 million in its third lap for a tally of $16.6 million -- beating "True Lies." A promotional visit Down Under by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore generated lots of media coverage and helped launch "The Wedding Singer" to top spot and a splendid $1.6 million. "Lost in Space" ranked in second place in Oz, taking $1.2 million in its second lap for a stellar total of $3.3 million. After a moderate debut, "Mercury Rising" fell by a worrying 42% for an unexciting $1.5 million in 11 days. "The Man in the Iron Mask" bagged $9.7 million overseas, propelling the total to a handsome $52.4 million. The only opening was Taiwan's rousing $636,000 in two days. The period picture has nabbed $10.5 million in 24 days in Italy (still in pole position), $9.5 million in 19 days in France, $5.7 million in 11 days in Germany, $4.6 million in 12 days in Spain and a moderate $2.9 million in 18 days in Australia. "The Devil's Advocate" managed just $450,000 in two days in Japan, evidently hindered by the concept that the devil isn't widely understood there. Distributor Nippon Herald retitled the picture "Diabolos" -- the Greek word for devil -- which may have puzzled audiences, who nevertheless may have been expected to turn out in greater numbers for a Keanu Reeves vehicle. Overall, the picture has grossed $90.1 million abroad. The Tommy Lee Jones starrer "U.S. Marshals" rounded up $1.2 million in France, $698,000 in Spain, $338,000 in Belgium and $77,000 in Finland. In France, writer-director Francis Veber's comedy "Le Diner de Cons" opened with a terrific $5.4 million in five days, and its distributor was predicting a seven-day haul of $7 million. "Jackie Brown" arrived in Germany with a mediocre $1.5 million; Quentin Tarantino's picture has collected $24.7 million in 15 markets. Still getting impetus from the Oscars, "As Good As It Gets" vaulted to $113.5 million overseas after a strapping $6.5 million weekend in more than 50 territories. The Jack Nicholson/Helen Hunt starrer slipped by just 9% in Japan for a respectable $2 million in nine days. Gus Van Sant's "Good Will Hunting" added $2.8 million to its coffers and stands at $70.1 million overseas. The top contributors are the U.K.'s $12.1 million, Germany's $8.1 million, Australia's $7.8 million, Japan's $6.6 million and France's $5.3 million. Fox's "Anastasia" fetched $3.3 million at the weekend and its foreign total reached $60.3 million. "Great Expectations" took an underwhelming $1.1 million in the U.K., and its total is a disappointing $10.5 million in seven territories. "Hard Rain" collected a fair $658,000 in the U.K. and a soft $443,000 in Germany. "Mouse Hunt's" foreign total is nearly $50 million, including the U.K.'s wow $9.2 million in 17 days, France's reasonable $2.9 million in 12 days (dropping only 9%) and Mexico's solid $2.2 million in 17 days. Woody Allen's "Deconstructing Harry" debuted in the U.K. with a solid $327,000. "The Replacement Killers" moved into Mexico with a dull $200,000; it's scored $12.2 million in 11 territories. Reuters/Variety

-- Dan Draghici (ddraghic@sprint.ca), April 21, 1998

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-- Thomas M. Terashima (titanicShack@yahoo.com), May 13, 1998.