LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -
Sci-fi fantasy "Jumper" led the
worldwide movie box office after opening at No. 1 in North
America and in countries including Britain and Korea, befitting
its story about a man who can instantly leap around the globe.
The 20th Century Fox release, starring Hayden Christensen
as a "teleporter" and Samuel L. Jackson as his blond-maned
rival, earned $67.6 million during the weekend, the News
Corp-owned studio said on Monday.
Moviegoers in the United States and Canada, primarily male
youths drawn by its "Matrix"-style action, contributed $38.3
million. The data consist of actual sales from Thursday to
Sunday and an estimate for Monday, which is the Presidents Day
holiday in the United States. Final figures will be released on
Tuesday.
The project, budgeted to cost in the $80 million range, was
a partnership between Fox and production firm Regency
Enterprises, which is controlled by billionaire investor Arnon
Milchan. Largely lambasted by critics, it was directed by Doug
Liman ("The Bourne Identity") from an adaptation of Steven
Gould's young-adult sci-fi novels "Jumper" and "Reflex."
"Jumper" also earned $29.3 million after opening in 30
international markets. This increasingly common practice of
simultaneous openings allows studios to align worldwide
marketing efforts and combat piracy. Data are a combination of
three- and four-day sales through Sunday, the studio said.
The movie topped the charts in such countries as Britain
($6.1 million), Korea ($4.8 million), Spain and Russia (both
$3.7 million), Australia ($3.1 million) and Taiwan ($1.3
million). The studio said the film will expand to the rest of
the world in March, coinciding with the Easter holiday.
Elsewhere in North America, the Walt Disney Courban dance
romance "Step Up 2 The Streets" opened at No. 2 in North
America with five-day sales of $28.1 million. "The Spiderwick
Chronicles," a fantasy based on a series of children's books,
debuted at No. 3 with $26.8 million. It was released by
Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc.
(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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