4th UPDATE, WRITETHRU Monday 3:58 PM: Warner Bros’ Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice defied the critics and had a massive $254M international opening this weekend, making it the No. 5 biggest bow ever at overseas turnstiles, and the No. 4 globally with $424.1M. There’s more detail on the WB/DC phenom below, and even more in my separate report here. Despite their worldwide domination, the black- and red-caped superheroes (and Wonder Woman) weren’t the only game in town internationally. Zootopia has Disney doing the bunny hop as the global charmer stuffed another big $44.7M (up from the Sunday estimate of $42.5M) worth of eggs into its Easter basket this weekend. That pushed it past $455M internationally, including $201M in China, and brought the global cume to $697.2M. On Friday, it helped speed the Walt Disney Studios past $1B at the international box office, the fastest the studio has ever reached the milestone.

Elsewhere this frame, Universal took a new bride with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in 14 markets. In holds, The Revenant crossed $50M in China after a visit to the Middle Kingdom by “Little Lee” DiCaprio last weekend. Also, Deadpool, with Japan still to come in June, is teetering on $400M overseas.

Below are breakdowns on the above and others in the international marketplace. Local-language pics have also been added with a word about what’s on deck in China next week.

Anita Busch updated on Monday.

NEW

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

Answering the question Who Will Win?, Warner Bros’ Justice League table-setter overcame a critical drubbing this weekend and gave the studio a much-welcomed boost. With $254M at the international box office, the movie powered to records for the genre and the March frame. China led the takings on $57.3M, followed by the UK and Mexico — in each of those a splashy premiere was held to help build buzz for the boys and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman who was undeniably a major draw. Leaving China to one side, the major markets for the past two stand-alone films, The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Man Of Steel (2013), were a mix of the UK, Australia, Mexico, France, Germany, Brazil and Korea. The order of preference for BvS’ brand of spandex & gold cuffs is China, the UK, Mexico, Brazil and Korea. China fell within industry projections and should now hit $100M, despite some looming local competition in the next frame. In Europe, many markets have yet another holiday tomorrow – Easter Monday – which will keep grosses hopping. For more on the full international breakdown, check out my separate report.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2

This counter-programmer was the other major release for the weekend. Universal is distributing in 28 territories with 14 of those opening in the frame. The estimate for the session is $8.3M at 2,646 dates. Australia was the top opener with $3.4M at 280 dates, including previews. The Nia Vardalos/John Corbett sequel reteam is at No. 2 behind BvS and opened at the same level as Bridesmaids and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and 16% ahead of the original My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Oz was the No. 2 market on the original which ultimately made $127M internationally in 2002.

The UK, which had been the top offshore market on that film, opened No. 4 with $1.5M at 420. The bank holiday tomorrow for Easter Monday should help here. Italy, Germany and Spain were, respectively, the 3rd, 4th and 5th biggest plays on the last film. Their debuts this weekend brought in $731K at 324 in Italy, $646K at 431 dates in Germany and $610K at 255 in Spain. It opened to No. 5 in Mexico with $412K at 350 dates.

There are 14 more territories to release over the next two months. The global cume after opening weekend is $180.1M.

HOLDOVERS

ZOOTOPIA

Although Judy Hopps took a backseat to the superheroes in offshore markets this weekend after dominating international play for several frames, new openings and holds in 51 markets were strong with a total $44.7M (up over $2M from the Sunday estimate of $42.5M) in overseas carrots. The international total is $455.8M. The major bow this frame was the UK ahead of two weeks of school holidays and at $7.5M. It enjoyed a 54% Friday-to-Saturday bump (weather-wise, Friday was gorgeous but the weekend was expected to lend itself better to moviegoing).

Globally, the Disney family favorite has grossed $697.2M to date.

Worldwide, Zootopia is now the 6th highest grossing original IP animated release of all-time. In the past week, it has overtaken such films as Tangled, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Kung Fu Panda and Big Hero 6. Ahead of it still are five movies from Disney Animation or Pixar: Frozen, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, and Up. Zootopia still has Japan to come on April 23.

In Europe, the film remains the top choice for families with Germany down 7% in the 4th frame for an estimated gross of $21.7M to date. Other strong European holds include -3% in Spain ($13.2M cume) and -23% in France ($27M). Zootopia has also become the No. 2 industry release ever in Russia, behind only Avatar, with $28.4M to date.

In China, the Byron Howard/Rich Moore helmed fable for our times is now Disney’s 2nd biggest film ever with $200.1M and falling in line behind Avengers: Age Of Ultron. It actually jockeyed for No. 1 during the mid-weeks with The Revenant, which has had a terrific run so far and landed in 3rd place for this weekend. Hong Kong opened Zootopia this weekend as the highest grossing Disney Animation Studios launch ever at $1.9M. Other records include India and Thailand where the animals are the top grossers ever for Disney/Pixar. Strong holds in Asia include -27% in Australia ($6.5M cume) and -27% in Korea ($20.6M). Also of note, Latin America as a region dropped just 20% from last weekend. Brazil in particular was just a 19% dip for a total gross $5.5M.

KUNG FU PANDA 3

With a $21.3M weekend, this bear still has claws. The offshore cume is now $292.5M. In new openings, Australia bowed in 4th with $2.19M from 349 locations. Italy picked up another $1.69M to lift its cume to $5.9M. The UK also pulled in $1.6M in its 3rd week taking the total there to $12.5M. Germany’s sophomore session dropped only 20%, bringing the total to $3.87M. Mexico, the No. 2 offshore play behind China ($147.4M), has a $13.1M cume.

There are four new markets to open next week, including France. Globally, its cume stands at around $431.9M.

THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT

The penultimate Divergent movie generated an estimated a lesser than expected $8.9M (down from the est. $9.5M) from 78 markets this frame. That puts the total overseas box office at $71M. France remains the top ex-U.S. play at $10.2M, followed by Brazil ($6.2M), Russia ($5.8M), the UK ($5.4M) and Mexico ($4.4M).

Australia releases April 14. The film has grossed $117.1M globally to date.

THE REVENANT

After a fantastic debut last weekend, triple Oscar-winner The Revenant continued its strong Middle Kingdom run – rivaling Zootopia in the mid-weeks with No. 1s Monday-Thursday. In total it shaved off a bit from Sunday estimates to add $8.39M to the mule pack, for an offshore cume of $323.9M. China was worth $6.18M for a $50.8M cume. France in its 5th weekend picked up another $1.37M (better than expected), down just 34%, to take its cume to $25.16M.

It now stands at $506M globally.

DEADPOOL

A further $3M takes Fox’s Deadpool to just under $400M internationally at $396.3M — and that’s without Japan which opens June 1 (not to mention China where it has not been released). On $53.5M in the UK, it is now the 5th biggest superhero movie ever in the market. In its 7th frame, Germany was a strong hold at -27% for a $24.2M cume.

It now has a hefty global cume of $745.7M.

GODS OF EGYPT

Loading another $2.3M into the chariot in 74, Lionsgate’s GOE has an international cume of $102.4M. China after three weeks has a total $34.7M, followed by Russia with $9.8M, Korea with $6.4M, Brazil at $4.6M and Mexico also at $4.6M.

There are several majors still to go including France, Germany, Spain and the UK. It has garnered only $30.2M domestically for a global tally of about $132.6M.

HAIL, CAESAR!

With openings in Korea and Peru this weekend, the international estimate on the Coen Brothers’ latest is $1M in 28 territories. The offshore total is now $29.3M. BvS-dominated Korea opened at No. 7 with $152K at 204 dates. Peru opened with $13K at a limited five dates.

Throughout April and May, the ensemble comedy opens in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Japan. It has grossed $59.38M globally to date.

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

With $2.5M this weekend, the JJ Abrams-produced spinoff now has a cume of $12.1M in 11 markets. Paramount did not open any new plays this weekend. The UK held with $1.2M from 522 cinemas for a cume of $4.8M. France, also in its sophomore session, scared up $605K at 277 for a $2.1M total.

Next weekend’s major bows include Russia and Germany. It has collected $68M worldwide so far.

MISC UPDATED CUMES

The Brothers Grimsby (SONY): $889K weekend; $19M international cume: ($25.7M worldwide)

The Lady in the Van (SONY): $520K weekend; $27.9M int’l cume ($37.1M worldwide)

Room (UNI): $505K weekend; $9.4M int’l cume ($24M worldwide)

The Witch (UNI): $477K weekend; $5.1M int’l cume ($29.1M worldwide)

The Danish Girl (UNI): $450K weekend; $51.6M int’l cume (Japan holding strong with $1.2M to date on the nice little earner with a $62.7M worldwide cume)

The Big Short (PAR): $310K weekend; $62M int’l cume ($132.1M worldwide)

13 Hours (PAR): $368K weekend; $12.5M int’l cume ($65.3M worldwide)

LOCAL-LANGUAGE

China was led this frame by a trio of U.S. films — Batman V Superman, Zootopia and The Revenant — with little in the way of takings for local pics. That will likely change next week with the arrival of The Bodyguard from Monster Hunt‘s Edko Films and starring Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Andy Lau, Tsui Hark and Shaofeng Feng; and crime caper Chongqing Hot Pot with Chen Kun and Bai Baihe which should goose the Middle Kingdom even as the spandex duo carry on the fight. Elsewhere, Fox International Productions’ Kapoor & Sons – Since 1921 added $2.6M in its 2nd frame and finals shaved a bit off of the Sunday estimates. The majority comes from India where the family dramedy generated $2.56M. The international cume is now $12.78M. In France, Medecin De Campagne (Irreplaceable) bowed as the No.2 new opener behind Batman. The weekend was worth $2M. From Jean Labadie’s Le Pacte, it stars Untouchables’ François Cluzet along with Marianne Denicourt. Cluzet plays a dependable country doctor. When he falls ill, a new doctor comes to town, but can she adapt to her new life and replace the man who believes himself irreplaceable? Thomas Lilti is director.