[Movie]Phenomenal Russian launch leads fairy-tale international start for Shrek The Third

Philippines, first territory in Asia, shatters all animation records

It proved a fairy-tale opening all around for DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek The Third over the weekend (ending May 20) as the $122m domestic launch was complimented by a raft of records across its four day-and-date international territories.

Released internationally by Paramount Pictures International the film took a combined $13.3m international start from Russia, Ukraine, Romania and the Philippines. Proving Shrek The Third, which follows the jolly green ogre on a quest to find the next king of Far Far Away, is set to reign supreme this summer the animated film opened #1 in all four territories felling records in its stride.

Russia led the weekend with an $11.1m launch that set new records not only as biggest animated opening of all time in the Eastern European major, but also as the highest non-Russian opening ever. The four-day opening single-handedly outperformed the lifetime grosses of all previous DreamWorks Animation releases in the territory.

Shrek The Third’s Russian start was 44% better than Spider-Man 3; 46% ahead of Ice Age: The Meltdown; 270% up on last summer’s Over The Hedge; and 2% stronger than that of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

In its first Asian market, the Philippines, Shrek 3 destroyed all animation records, taking best animated opening day, weekend, and individual records for an animated film on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The film claimed $953k in the territory, including previews. The sequel’s launch weekend was 33% ahead of previous animated record holder Ice Age: The Meltdown; 97% up on Shrek 2; and 302% ahead of Over The Hedge.

Ukraine ($1.1m) also claimed records for biggest animated opening of all time and biggest Saturday ever. The launch was the second biggest in the territory’s history (behind Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) and has already surpassed lifetime cumulative grosses of all previous DreamWorks Animation releases. Results finished 242% ahead of Madagascar; 321% up on Over The Hedge; 161% stronger than Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

In Romania ($119k) Shrek The Third claimed the record for best animated opening ever and entered the top five all time debuts. The biggest weekend of the year to date the animated sequel topped Spider-Man 3’s launch by 33%; was 203% up on Shrek 2; and 341% better than Pixar’s recent Cars.

Shrek The Third opens next in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand on May 31, before rolling out through most international territories through June.

The third installment of the hit franchise, which has grossed $1.4bn worldwide with $700m coming from international markets, follows Shrek (Mike Myers), Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas) on a quest to find the rightful heir to the throne of Far Far Away, while Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and friends defend the kingdom from Prince Charming (Rupert Everett). Justin Timberlake and Eric Idle join the returning voice cast as Arthur and Merlin.