Cinefantastique Online

RATATOUILLE - the Disney-Pixar animated film directed by Brad Bird - did strong business in foreign territories this weekend, landing in first place with $19.7-million earned in 3,010 engagements spread out over 38 territories.

From Variety:

“Ratatouille”cooked up tasty results at the international box office, winning the weekend for the first time with $19.7 million at 3,010 playdates in 38 markets.

Foreign cume for the Disney/Pixar toon has already hit $247 million even as the Mouse House has held back such key markets as the U.K., where it opens next weekend, along with Italy and China, where it debuts the following frame. With plenty of gas left in its international tank, “Ratatouille” should become the seventh film of the year and 50th of all time to top $300 million overseas by the end of its run.

Thanks to impressive Euro openings, “Ratatouille” dominated an otherwise moderate frame, exceeding the combined results of the next two highest — “Resident Evil: Extinction” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” Best “Ratatouille” results came from its German opening of $12.2 million and an Austrian launch of $1.6 million — in both cases topping the combined grosses of the next nine pics.

The tale of a cooking-obsessed rat has shown plenty of traction outside the U.S., with 55% of its $450 million worldwide total from foreign markets.