Early Edition-
Shrek 2 had a phenomenal weekend. The film racked up $69.2 from 4,640 screens in 32 territories. Plus if you include the U.K.'s enormous previews the film had a $79.3m weekend. That shot its international total to $176.5m. That means by next Sunday the film will exceed Shrek's $210,848,723 total. And with Japan, Italy, and Scandinavia ahead Shrek 2 has a solid shot at making $400m in international grosses, which would put it in the Top 15 all time chart.
Breaking this huge weekend down one must look straight to the U.K. where the film grossed a stunning $19,366,863 in three days from 512 screens. It nearly matched Azkaban's $20,994,153 gross from its first three days, which was the biggest opening three days on record. However, Azkaban opened on a Monday so Shrek 2 can rejoice in the fact that it was the biggest opening film from a three-day weekend. Plus Shrek 2 grossed $10,225,144 from previews so its opening weekend gross will stand at $29,591,472, which is the fourth biggest opening weekend ever behind all the Harry Potter films. The film also grabbed the biggest Saturday ever taking in $8.2m (£4.5m) ahead of Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets' $7.9m (£4.3m).
The U.K. wasn't the only shining star for Shrek 2, however. Spain amassed an astonishing $9,588,644 from 478 screens in its opening five days. After a first two-day take of $2.6m Shrek 2 added $7m over the weekend. That was the second biggest three-day opening weekend ever behind The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King's $7.4m. What's even more impressive is that Shrek 2's gross is 86% of Shrek's lifetime gross there ($11,179,409).
Shrek 2 wasn't as impressive in Germany, but still had a spectacular $8,832,081 gross from 889 screens in its first four days. There were no records to brag about, but $8.8m is still a great number. Neighboring Austria was the same comparatively with $1,144,550 from 32 screens in its first four days.
Shrek 2 had better success in the Netherlands where it grossed $1,676,349 from 224 screens in its first four days, which gave it $2,059,442 weekend including previews. The preview figure was the third biggest opening weekend ever beneath only the most recent Potter and Lord of the Rings' films.
Poland was one of the biggest surprises of the weekend, however. The film grossed a stunning $2,422,129 from its opening weekend (including previews), which makes it one of the Top 3 best openers ever.
Other territories Shrek 2 opened in this weekend were Hungary ($762,351 on 38) and Portugal ($788,983 on 81). Holdovers seem to be doing the best business for the film. Despite France's stunning debut Shrek 2 only fell 14% to $8,521,570 on 784 screens for a $23,631,879 total. In Australia the film fell 38% to $3,722,114 on 277 for an 18-day total of $24,281,895. In Switzerland it was off just 8% to $794,842 on 106 for a $1,913,420 12-day total. However, Shrek 2 started to skid in Mexico by falling 43% to $3,793,031 on 366 for a 19-day tall of $22,648,608. Despite the skid $3.8m is good for any weekend, opening or not.
