MUMBAI: Marking the biggest start of the year so far for any film and nearly double the opening earnings of G.I Joe: The Rise of the Cobra in the same markets in 2009, Paramount‘s action thriller G.I. Joe Retaliation opened to a strong $80.3 million at the international box office.

Directed by Jon M Chu, G.I. Joe comprises an international cast led by franchise newcomers Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis. The film debuted with $51.7 million in North America for a global opening of $132 million.

The film did particularly well in Russia, Latin America and Asia -- all markets where 3D remains a popular format. Among 2013 releases, the movie opened 10 percent ahead of Oz the Great and Powerful and 25 per cent ahead of Willis‘ A Good Day to Die Hard.

The film opened in a total of 54 territories representing 75 percent of the international marketplace. The only major territories left to open are China and Japan. Top openings included Russia ($11 million), South Korea ($6 million), Mexico ($6 million) and Germany ($4.5 million).

The film has been placed at No. 1 in most of the countries, although 3D animated film The Croods did better than it in the U.K.

From DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox, Croods opened in another five markets over the Easter weekend including the U.K. where it roped in $5 million. The family film was placed No 2 internationally for the weekend, earning $52.5 million for a foreign total of $140.5 million and worldwide cume of $229.1 million.