MUMBAI: Andrew Stanton‘s 3D science-fiction John Carter hit $30.6 million in its North American debut thanks to an uptick on Saturday, while the film opened internationally to $70.6 million for a total $101.2 million. In an otherwise bland box office weekend offshore, the film‘s robust performance provided a much-needed jolt.

Although the Disney film‘s weekend overseas tally was easily the best so far, it does reflect the film‘s under-performance in key territories. Like for example, in Mexico that is usually far more receptive to adventure-fantasy vehicles, the film grossed less than $3 million ($2.9 million).

The disparity between the Russian gross and the opening takes in key European territories has, however, been in double digits. The Australia figure appears undernourished given Carter‘s production budget and promotional push. 

The $250-million-plus live action-computer animation fantasy claimed the No. 1 spots in at least nine territories mostly in Asia including ($3.4 million from some 250 locations) in Australia. However, the biggest single market by far was Russia where Carter took 25 per cent of the territory‘s weekend box office by grossing $17.5 million.

In Germany, the film competing with Intouchables, generated $3 million. Carter is placed second in the UK ($2.9 million), France ($3.8 million) and in South Korea ($3.9 million).

Placed in the second spot on the weekend overall was 20th Century Fox‘s This Means War that collected $9.4 million on the weekend from 3,662 situations in 52 territories. With this, the film lifted its overseas gross total to $57.5 million.

At No. 3 was Journey 2: The Mysterious Island which was in the top spot in the previous four weekends grossed $9.2 million from 53 markets, thus lifting its overseas gross total to $200 million compared to $143 grossed overseas by its 2008 predecessor Journey To The Center Of The Earth.