http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cloud-atlas-poised-international-comeback-389267Cloud Atlas Poised for International Comeback The fantasy epic grosses more than
$10 million in its first international
berths in Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. by Scott Roxborough
6:39 AM PST 11/12/2012 COLOGNE, Germany – Cloud Atlas may have fallen to earth domestically but the fantasy epic could be reborn oversees if its performance in
Russia and
Ukraine is any indication.
The ambitious multilayered drama directed by
Lana and
Andy Wachowski and German helmer
Tom Tykwer grossed $9.71 million in Russia and Ukraine over the weekend, the first two territories on its international roll out. Together, the two Eastern European markets outperformed
Cloud Atlas ' U.S. bow, where the
Warner Bros. title earned about $9.6 million on its opening weekend.
The film's impressive $9.1 million (RUB 282 million) opener in Russia, on more than 1,400 screens, was enough to secure the number one slot in the territory. The film beat out all competitors including
Ben Affleck's
Argo, which knocked
Cloud Atlas into second slot in its U.S. debut.
Cloud Atlas ' Russian bow, is blockbuster size for the territory. The new
James Bond,
Skyfall, opened at $8.6 million in Russia.
“I always believed in the film...we treated it like a blockbuster in Russia and tremendous support from the exhibitors and and our studio partner
20th Century Fox Russia,”
Alexander van Dulmen, whose
A Film Russia released
Cloud Atlas. “It was a tremendous marketing achievement. Personally, I'm extremely pleased that a brainy movie like this one has done so well in Russia.”
Van Dulmen also praised Ukrainian distributor
B&H Film who bowed
Cloud Atlas on 120 screens.
Cloud Atlas ' strong performance in Russia bodes well for the film as its picks up its international roll-out.
X Verleih, the distribution arm of Cl
oud Atlas ' Berlin-based producers
X Filme, will bow the film on around 600 screens in Germany November 15. The release, which X Verleih is handling together with
Warner Bros. Germany, is a tentpole equivalent in the territory.
Sony Pictures released
Skyfall on 789 copies in Germany.
Commenting on
Cloud Atlas ' strong international start, the film's producers,
Stefan Arndt and
Grant Hill, said they were “delighted that our the first international releases are repaying our belief in this special film.” In addition to Russia and Ukraine,
Cloud Atlas pulled in an additional $1 million from
Turkey.
All eyes are now on Germany, where
Cloud Atlas will have to face off against
Skyfall. The new Bond has delivered the best first and second weekend ever for the franchise in Germany and has sold some 4 million tickets so far in the territory.
Argo, which debuted at number six in Germany on 150 copies, looks less threatening to
Cloud Atlas here. The German release of 3-D actioner
Dredd, which
Universum is bowing together with
Disney next weekend, however, could siphon off a few German sci-fi fans that would otherwise end up in the
Cloud Atlas camp.
In the
U.S.,
Cloud Atlas has so far grossed around $23 million after 17 days.