'Prince' reigns over 'Sex' and 'Shrek' worldwide

While
Shrek delivered another big weekend at the US box office, across the rest of the world the blockbuster was
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, in its second week of release.

The fantasy action-adventure film opened a week before the US release and in advance of the World Cup games in an effort to gain momentum with the international market before audiences' attention shifts to football.

Prince, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley, reached No. 1 in 40 of the 47 countries where it played. It marks a shift for a successful film that is based on a video game, earning $59 million this past weekend outside the US, for a two-week total of 87.5 million dollars.

Sex and the City 2 took second place, opening in 17 markets around the world. The sequel to the film adaptation of the popular television series will release in another 20 more countries this coming week. Sex also landed in the No. 2 spot in the US, ahead of Prince of Persia.

In the rest of the world, Shrek Forever After came in third, playing in 15 countries. The 3D film and fourth installment of the animated family story about a giant ogre rolls out to six more countries in June and then in July it hits 18 more, perhaps trying to work around the World Cup schedule.

RC