Around-the-World: 'Madagascar 3' Skips Europe, Wins Overseas Anyway

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Due to competition from the Euro Cup, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted largely avoided opening in Europe, though it still took the top spot at the foreign box office this weekend with a strong $75.5 million haul.

Out of its 28 countries, its strongest was Russia with $16.4 million. That's one of the Top 10 openings ever there, and is about on par with Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. It was also a monster in Brazil, where its $11 million debut was the best in that market since last July's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Other notable debuts occurred in China ($10.4 million), Mexico ($6.6 million), South Korea ($4.3 million) and Argentina ($3.6 million). It took the top spot in all of these markets with the exception of South Korea.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted out-grossed Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in all of the above markets; ironically, the only major territory where it fell short of its predecessor was in France ($7.6 million), which was the movie's only major European debut. That could be a result of the Euro Cup, though the French team doesn't play until Monday.

Based on these strong openings, it's likely that Madagascar 3 at least comes close to eclipsing Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa's $423.9 million total. The animated sequel expands in to 15 more markets next weekend, though none of them are significant.

Prometheus added $39.2 million from 50 markets for a new total of $91.5 million. It opened to an impressive $6.8 million in Australia, and was also strong in South Korea ($4.3 million). In its second weekend in the U.K., the movie held first place with $5.2 million, and has so far amassed $25 million in director Ridley Scott's native country. Next weekend, Prometheus expands in to 14 additional markets including Mexico and Brazil, and it still has Spain, Germany, Japan and Italy on the horizon.

After two weekends on top, MIB 3 took third place with an estimated $38.3 million (off 45 percent from last week). It's top market so far is China, where it added $7 million for a total of $63.4 million. Overall, MIB 3 reached $352.1 million overseas, which is the highest foreign gross for the franchise ahead of Men in Black's $338.7 million.

In its second outing, Snow White and the Huntsman grossed $24.6 million for an early total of $83.5 million. It added $3.6 million in the U.K., $2.7 million in Mexico, and $2.6 million in both Brazil and Germany. Next weekend, the revisionist fairy tale epic expands in to France, Russia and Japan, among other smaller markets.