Alfonso Cuaron, a relatively obscure name till recently, has become an international box-office champion in just about three days.
His first big-budget film, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, cast a powerful spell in 24 countries over the weekend.
According to producer and distributor Warner Bros, the movie that grossed a splendid $93 million in North America, earned about $113 million overseas. The film, which began its run in Britain on May 31, earned $56 million there over the week.
The question now is whether the third instalment in the Hogwarts saga will overtake the $970 million grossed by the first film worldwide, and the $860 million by the second.
Don't Miss: Showcasing Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
The first two Harry Potter films were directed by Christopher Columbus, who had huge hits like Mrs Doubtfire and Home Alone before turning to the novels of J K Rowling. Each of the films grossed over $500 million worldwide. But Cuaron has been known only for his small-budget films like Great Expectations and A Little Princess. His biggest success till now has been the sad, but sexually scorching, Y Tu Mama Tambien that earned about $60 million worldwide.
The awesome Prisoner of Azkaban gross, combined with the huge overseas haul of the movies The Day After Tomorrow and Troy, gave Hollywood a record-creating weekend, the trade publication Variety reported.
Most Hollywood films gross about 50 per cent more than their domestic take, but some like The Last Samurai, toplining Tom Cruise, hit the roof abroad. The pattern continues with stronger results now that Hollywood often releases its higher profile movies abroad the same week they open in North America.
The Last Samurai was considered a mediocre success in America. But the big-budget film, which cost over $130 million, minted $350 million abroad the revenue from Japan itself amounted to over $100 million. In America, it made just about $120 million.
A similar situation is now developing for the $180 million Troy. In America, the film is headed for a mediocre $140 million run. But overseas, where Brad Pitt is sensationally popular, it has already grossed $260 million. The epic, dealing with issues like opposition to war and destruction wrought by ego, is headed for a handsome $320 million gross abroad, say trade experts. When DVD and video sales are factored in and the film is sold to cable and television networks, it could easily make a $100 million profit.
Another film having a so-so run in America but moving around with hurricane might abroad is the disaster and survival drama The Day After Tomorrow. In America, the poorly reviewed film by director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) is headed for a $180-190 million run. But abroad, the film has already taken $180 million and is yet to open in many countries. Trade experts expect it to earn at least $300 million abroad, and the movie, which cost nearly $150 million, is another candidate for a solid profit.
Shrek 2, which has created a record for animated films in America and is headed for a strong $380 million run, opened in only a few countries in Southeast Asia. But in a few weeks, the DreamWorks classic will start eating into the highly profitable box office of Prisoner of Azkaban, The Day After Tomorrow, and Troy.
