'Mamma Mia!' still on top overseas

Universal’s hit musical “Mamma Mia!” held on to the top spot at the international box office this weekend with $17.5 million in 44 markets, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That raises the movie’s overseas total to $307 million.

Jumping to No. 2 was Sony’s action adventure “Hancock,” which took in $10 million in 34 markets. The Peter Berg-directed Will Smith vehicle brought its total gross to $375.2 million.

At No. 3, Universal’s “Wanted” picked up $8.2 million to reach an overseas total of $158.5 million. Following in fourth place with $7.5 million in 55 markets was “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” which lifted its cumulative gross to $268.5 million. It’s also the third Universal release to make it into the top 5.

Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” slipped to No. 5 this weekend, earning $6.7 million and bringing its international total to $448.9 milion. Pixar’s animated feature “WALL-E” followed with $4.3 million in 39 territories, while “Death Race” picked up $4 million in 11 countries.

Other results from overseas: “Kung Fu Panda” reached a total of $404.1 million thanks to weekend earnings of $2.7 million; “Babylon A.D.” took home $1.8 million; “Get Smart” lifted its cumulative to $93.6 million; and “Mirrors” brought its total to $8.2 million.

‘Mamma Mia!’ tops overseas box office

Universal’s “Mamma Mia!” put an end to the reign of “The Dark Knight” by jumping to the top at the international box office with $15 million in ticket sales, reaching a total of $280.1 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Slipping to No. 2, Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Batman flick took home another $11.8 million in 62 territories to reach an overseas total of $437.2 million. In third place, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” pulled $11.6 million, reaching a cumulative gross of $255.4 million from ticket sales in 56 markets.

Climbing back up the ladder of the box office chart was “Wanted,” which finished fourth this weekend with $6.5 million to bring its international total to $146.8 million. Following at No. 5 was DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda,” which lifted its total gross to $397 thanks to this weekend’s earnings of $6.3 million.

Other results from overseas: Pixar’s “WALL-E” pulled in $6.2 million to reach a cumulative gross of $184.5 million; Adam Sandler’s comedy “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” picked up $5.4 million (for an overseas total of $78.3 million); and “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” earned $5 million ($48.1 million total).

Nicholas Cage’s latest action flick “Bangkok Dangerous,” which opened at No. 1 domestically, collected $1.3 million in 2 markets. As for Vin Diesel’s “Babylon A.D.,” it ended up taking $2.3 million in 12 territories.

'The Dark Knight' flies high at overseas b.o.

"The Dark Knight" continued its overseas box office dominance this weekend with $34 million in 62 territories, bringing its international total to  $381.2 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Meanwhile, Universal’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” held on to its No. 2 spot, earning $12.8 million and lifting its overseas total to $222.4 million.

Following in third place with $12.5 million was Universal’s acclaimed musical “Mamma Mia!,” which reached a cumulative gross of $232.5 million. At No. 4, Adam Sandler’s comedy “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” pulled in $10.5 million to reach a total of $56.6 million

Pixar’s computer-animated adventure “WALL-E” finished in fifth place with a weekend gross of $8.7 million and an overseas total of $163 million, while “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” lifted its cumulative to $33 million thanks to this weekend’s take of $7.2 million.

Other results from the international box office: “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” earned $5 million; Universal’s “Wanted” took home $4 million; “Kung Fu Panda” pulled $3.8 million; and “Meet Dave” grossed 3 million.

‘The Dark Knight’ returns to ruling overseas b.o.

“The Dark Knight” jumped back on top of the international box office with a weekend gross of $42.4 million in ticket sales, lifting its foreign total to $328.6 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Last week’s winner “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” slipped to No. 2, collecting $32.6 million in 56 markets. Rob Cohen’s third installment in the popular “Mummy” series lifted its overseas total to $196.6 million.

Moving up a spot from No. 4 to No. 3 was Universal’s musical “Mamma Mia!,” which pulled in $16.8 million and reached a cumulative gross of $204.6 million. Following in fourth place was Pixar’s “WALL-E,” which grabbed $13.8 million to lifted its overseas total to $146.2 million.

Meanwhile, Adam Sandler’s comedy “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” ranked in fifth this weekend, taking home $11.2 million in 42 markets and bringing its total gross to $40.8 million. DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda” reached $363.5 million thanks to a weekend gross of $6.3 million.

Other results from the international box office: Chris Carter’s “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” rose to $36.5 million after weekend earnings of $3.4 million; “Wanted” reached $126.5 million; and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” pulled $7.6 million.

‘The Mummy’ continues overseas box office reign

“The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” topped the international box office for the second consecutive week with $56.1 million in 49 markets, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Rob Cohen’s sequel starring Brendan Fraser lifted its international cumulative to $141.1 million, reaching a worldwide total of $211.7 million. At No. 2, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” pulled in $35.1 million, bringing its overseas total to $263.1 million.

Pixar’s comuter-animated hit “WALL-E” finished in third place this weekend, collecting $18.1 million in 28 markets and lifting its cumulative gross to $121.6 million. Meanwhile, Universal’s musical “Mamma Mia!” took home $14.7 million in 24 territories (for a $173.4 million overseas total).

DreamWorks Animation’s family adventure “Kung Fu Panda” earned $8 million at No. 5, reaching an overseas cumulative gross of an impressive $347.5 million. Following in sixth place was Peter Berg’s action hit “Hancock,” which after this weekend’s earnings of $6.5 million brought its international total to $332.1 million.

Other results from the overseas box office: “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” snatched $5.7 million to climb to $31.4 million total; “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” pulled $3.6 million for a $253.7 million overseas total; “Wanted” scored $3 million to reach $120.6 million; and “The Happening” lifted its total to $94.8 million.

Box Office: 'The Dark Knight' crushes 'Pineapple'

By Franck Tabouring

Weekend of August 8 – 10, 2008

“The Dark Knight” topped the North American box office for the fourth consecutive weekend with $26 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Lifting its total gross to $441.5 million, Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed sequel to “Batman Begins” climbed to the third spot on the all-time domestic box office chart. This puts “The Dark Knight” right behind “Star Wars” and “Titanic,” which reached $460.9 million and $600.7 million respectively.

Debuting in second place with $22.4 million was David Gordon Green’s stoner action comedy “Pineapple Express,” which stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as two potheads on the run from a bunch of ruthless criminals. Since its release Wednesday, the R-rated film has grossed $40.4 million.

Meanwhile, Universal’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” tumbled to No. 3, earning $16.1 million and reaching a total haul of $70.6 million after two weeks in release. Directed by Rob Cohen, the sequel to “The Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns” stars Brendan Fraser as a an explorer struggling to take down China’s Dragon Emperor (Jet Li).

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Rob Cohen spills ideas for ‘Mummy 4’

Although “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” just opened last week, director Rob Cohen is already thinking about a fourth installment in the popular series that started with Stephen Sommers’ “The Mummy” in 1999.

Whether there will be a fourth film all depends on how well this sequel ends up doing, Cohen told MTV News in a recent interview. But considering the film already took home $101.9 million worldwide this past weekend, chances are good we’ll see more mummy action in the near future.

Cohen also revealed some ideas he has for the next installment, including the relocation of the story to Latin America. “We now have it clear that the ‘Mummy’ franchise can travel,” he told MTV.

There’s one other thing Cohen talked about in the interview, but before I go on about it, please beware the following sentence contains a BIG spoiler (if you haven’t seen “Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” yet).

Part of the story of another sequel would focus on Rick’s immortality, and how that helps him in battling another mummy or villain. For all of Cohen’s thoughts on a “Mummy 4” movie, head over to MTV right here.

Review: "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"

Seen on: August 2, 2008

The players: Director: Rob Cohen, Writers: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Cast: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh, John Hannah, Luke Ford

Facts of interest: Third installment in the franchise that took off in 1999.

The plot: Rick and Evelyn O’Connell are pulled out of retired boredom and back into action when their son Alex, now a young explorer, is tricked into awakening the ruthless Dragon Emperor.

Our quick thoughts: With “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” director Rob Cohen picks up the franchise that was made popular by Stephen Sommers and gives it a whole new look, not only by attributing his different directing style to it, but also by taking the story to China, where the O’Connells have to face a new kind of mummy.

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‘Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ scores overseas

Although it failed to outperform “The Dark Knight” at the North American box office, Universal’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” climbed to the top spot overseas with a weekend gross of $59.5 million in 26 markets, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Last week’s box office champion “The Dark Knight” dropped to second place with $37 million, lifting its international total to $202.5 million. Meanwhile, Pixar’s “WALL-E” finished third with $15.7 million, bringing its overseas cumulative to $95 million.

At No. 4, “Mamma Mia!” collected $14.6 million to reach a total haul of $140.7 million. Worldwide, Universal’s adaptation of the popular Broadway musical has grossed 228.7 million so far.

Following in fifth place this weekend was Will Smith’s “Hancock” with $11.9 million in 71 territories. The Peter Berg-directed action adventure lifted its international gross to $319.1 million after a strong five-week run.

Other results from the overseas box office: DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda” snatched $11 million ($328 million total haul); “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” took in $9.2 million (for a $22 million cumulative); and “Wanted” grabbed $6.5 million (reaching a 115.6 million total).

Box Office: 'Dark Knight' slashes 'Mummy'

By Franck Tabouring

Weekend of August 1 – August 3, 2008

“The Dark Knight” managed to fend off “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” at the North American box office with a weekend gross of $43.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

“Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” debuted in second place with $42.4 million, which is a little less than the $43.3 million opening weekend gross of “The Mummy” in 1999. Directed by Rob Cohen, the third installment in the franchise follows Brendan Fraser on his quest to take down China’s ruthless Han Emperor (played by Jet Li).

Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” continued its reign over the box office, lifting its domestic total to an impressive $394.8 million after only three weeks in release. Starring Christian Bale, the film follows Batman’s struggled to protect Gotham City from the madness of the Joker (Heath Ledger).  

Sony’s “Step Brothers” slipped to No. 3 this weekend, collecting $16.3 million and brining its total haul to $62.9 million after a two-week run. Directed by Adam McKay and produced by Judd Apatow, the film stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as two spoiled men who become competitive stepbrothers after their single parents decide to get married.

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