Foreign moviegoers rescue ailing "Narnia" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – the third film in the franchise "Narnia" fantasy shaky took the top spot at the box office worldwide Sunday, despite a soft start in United States, where is The Tourist in shadow "," the new bomb starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: the voyage of the Dawn Treader" $ 105.5 million tickets sold globally distributor said of 20th Century Fox.

But moviegoers in the United States and in Canada has contributed only 24.5 million during its first three days. Industry pundits had forecast a beginning of 30 million to 40 million for the third adaptation of Christian themed books C.S. Lewis '.

News Corp.-owned studio said the movie was no. 1 in at least 32 of its 56 overseas markets. Top Contributors to the radius of $ 81 million included Russia (11.3 million $) and Mexico ($ 7.5 million).

"Tourism", starring Jolie and Depp as a pair mismatch cavorting around Venice, debuted at no. 2 in Italy with 17 million dollars--short of forecasts muted in the range of $ 20 million. Internationally, earned $ 8 million from a handful of markets, led by Korea ($ 3 million, no. 2) and Britain (2.2 million dollars, no 3)

Both films have been lambasted by critics, and both bring hefty price tag--$ 150 million and 100 million, respectively--requiring strong overseas sales to make them profitable. The two previous film "the Chronicles of Narnia" did most of their activities abroad, where Depp and Jolie also are most popular.

"EXCITED" NARNIA

The film "Narnia" previous sank almost the franchise. "Prince Caspian" open to $ 55 million in 2008 on its way to a weak total of 142 million. The RADIUS overseas was 278 million. His predecessor, "the lion, the Witch and the wardrobe," finished with 292 million dollars in the United States after a debut of 66 million. Foreign Fans kicks in other 453 million $.

Fox took the series after Walt Disney Co fall in the wake of flop "Caspian". Films are produced by companies of cinematic Walden Media family, which is owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz.

Fox said has succeeded in its goal of resurrecting the franchise and was "excited" about his global perspective.

"Tourism" marks the beginning worse over the years for its high-profile stars. Jolie's last big flop was "A Mighty Heart," which opened to 3.9 million in 2007. Depp has come back to 2001 for a better-performing: "From Hell," with 11 million.

Jolie was in the theaters a few months ago with "Sale", where so-so national total of 118 million (including an opening of 36 million) has been enhanced by foreign sales of 175 million.

Depp starred in one of the biggest movies of the year, "Alice in Wonderland," which grossed more than $ 1 billion worldwide, two thirds coming from overseas.

The new film did even worse than a couple of recent matchups unpopular among big stars, "The Bounty Hunter," with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler (21 million); and "Knight and Day," with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz ($ 20 million). They ended up with 67 million and $ 76 million, respectively, in the United States. "Bounty hunter" made a similar amount of overseas, while "Knights and Day" earned 185 million internationally.

"Tourism" is distributed by Columbia Pictures of Sony Corp., which has restricted financial exposure. The study is receiving a tax distribution by the producer Oscar Graham King ("The Departed"), who has arranged the financing itself.

Americans sampled last weekend, the cartoon Disney "Tangled," slipped to no. 3 with 14.6 million. Total has increased to 115.6 million after three weekends. Foreign sales are to 77 million from 17 markets.

Perhaps the biggest splash in the top 10 was made by smaller movie. "Black Swan" jumped seven seater No. 6 with 3.3 million dollars alone 90 theatres in its second week. The Ballet thriller, starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, is among dozens of films in competition for awards-season attention. Was distributed by Fox Searchlight, the arthouse arm of 20th Century Fox.

(Edited by Doina Chiacu)

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