UPDATE, WRITETHRU: Alcon/Sony’s Blade Runner 2049 leads studio movies abroad this session, although it again has butted heads with Chinese comedy success Never Say Die coming in slightly ahead to win the international box office weekend. BR2049 grossed a Sony estimated $29.3M in 64 markets this session, taking its overseas total to $98M. Tied in with domestic, that brings the worldwide cume to $158.6M through two frames.

Holds were very solid in some markets on the sequel to Ridley Scott’s classic (which, to be fair, didn’t set the box office ablaze when it first released back in 1982), but there was disappointing news in Korea. The sophisticated market opened the movie to just $1.7M. There are three local titles ahead, including one new release and two holdover pics, but eyes were on this to do better there.

The midweeks in markets which opened last session were good. Tops for now is the UK (where the movie was again No. 1) with a $16.2M cume. The China release on this film was moved up this past week to October 27, but in a last-minute turn-around, WB’s Geostorm also landed that date.

That doomsday pic bowed in a handful of smaller Asia markets this frame, ranking No. 1 in each, and scoring $9.1M.

In other new openers, domestic champ Happy Death Day from Blumhouse/Universal woke up in 11 markets with $5M. Brazil and Australia were tops. Also from Universal, and Working Title, Michael Fassbender-starrer The Snowman is looking at defrosting $9M in 27 markets including the UK.

Fox’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle is closing in on $200M international after a $15.6M weekend, including a No. 1 start in France. China’s up for that Matthew Vaughn-helmed pic next Friday. The Foreigner, from STX and Sparkle Roll, which opened in China a few weeks ago, has now crossed $100M worldwide.

It still isn’t clowning around with a global tally of $630.6M to date, and Annabelle: Creation has passed $300M worlwdwide.

Next session, Geostorm, Happy Death Day and The Snowman notably expand before Thor: Ragnarok’s offshore turnstiles beginning October 24.

Breakdowns on the films above and more have been updated below.

NEW

GEOSTORM

Warner Bros Warner Bros’ Geostorm, the feature helming debut of producer Dean Devlin, whipped up a strong start in 8 smaller Asian markets this frame. With $9.1M on 2,150 screens it was No. 1 in all its openings. Tops was Taiwan with $1.8M on 190; Malaysia did $1.3M on 400 screens; Thailand and Hong Kong were worth $1.2M each; and Indonesia and the Philippines took $1.1M per.

Domestic bows on the disastser pic next weekend with 50 more international hubs joining. The Gerard Butler-starrer about an intricate network of weather satellites that suddenly turn against the world, has been shuttled back-and-forth on its China date but is now set for October 27, facing off with the start of Blade Runner 2049.

Butler, a big draw overseas, plays Jake, a scientist who, along with his brother, Max (Jim Sturgess), is tasked with solving the satellite malfunction. A slew of folks help Jake out including Secret Service agent Sarah Wilson (Abbie Cornish); Ute Fassbinder (Alexandra Maria Lara), the astronaut who oversees the International Space Station; and the President of the United States (Andy Garcia). The Warner Bros/Skydance/Electric Entertainment production also stars Daniel Wu, Ed Harris, Adepero Oduye, Amr Waked, Robert Sheehan and Eugenio Derbez.

THE SNOWMAN

Universal From Universal and Working Title, the Michael Fassbender thriller descended upon 27 markets this weekend and is expected to gross $9M. From director Tomas Alfredson and based on Jo Nesbo’s novel, the pic also stars Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Val Kilmer and JK Simmons. It releases domestically on Ocrtober 20.

The UK bowed ahead of comp Prisoners with $1.9M at No. 3; Norway (Nesbo’s home), took No. 1 with $1.4M and the 3rd biggest opening day of 2017 there. Italy landed No. 2 in a soft market that was 53% down from last year; and Spain will take $1M from the frame.

Next weekend adds Australia, Austria, Estonia, Germany, Paraguay, Portugal, Serbia & Montenegro, German-speaking Switzerland and Trinidad.

The pic follows elite crime squad detective Harry Hole (Fassbender) who investigates the disappearance of a victim on the first snow of winter. He fears an elusive serial killer, who calls himself the Snowman Killer, may be active again. With the help of a brilliant recruit (Ferguson), Harry must connect decades-old cold cases to the brutal new one in hopes of outwitting this unthinkable evil before the next snowfall.

Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner produce with Piodor Gustafsson and Robyn Slovo. Exec producers are Nesbo, Martin Scorsese, Niclas Salomonsson, Alfredson, Liza Chasin and Amelia Granger.

HAPPY DEATH DAY

Universal Blumhouse/Universal’s horror hit woke in 11 markets this session, grossing $5M. That takes the global total to $31.5M through Sunday combined with domestic. Early numbers are strong with reviews and audience reaction positive.

Brazil, a big horror barometer, bowed at No. 2 with an excellent $2M, above recent hits Split and The Conjuring. Australia was No. 3 at $1.1M, in line with 2016’s Don’t Breathe.

Overall, HDD bowed 16% bigger than Blumhouse’s Get Out in the same markets. Domestically, it had the 3rd best start this year for a Blumhouse title after Split ($40M) and Get Out ($33.3M). As with those pictures, HDD is an original concept — footage shown to exhibitors in Barcelona this summer wowed. The story follows a college student who relives the day of her murder with its unexceptional details and terrifying end… until she discovers her killer’s identity.

Next session adds 16 more hubs including Sweden, Taiwan and the U.K.

HOLDOVERS/EXPANSION

BLADE RUNNER 2049

Warner Bros. Narrowly missing the No. 1 crown this weekend internationally, Sony/Alcon’s Blade Runner 2049 bowed to $29.3M in 65 markets. The sophomore session brings the offshore cume to $98M. That number should have been higher given liftoff in Korea was this frame, but the movie failed to connect with audiences there in a crowded local field and took just $1.7M.

Holds were very solid in some markets on the sequel to Ridley Scott’s classic: Brazil (-16%), Sweden (-30%), Poland (-31%), Netherlands (-32%), Germany (-37%), UK (-39%), Italy (-39%), Australia (-41%) and Belgium (-42%).

The midweeks in markets which opened last session were good. Tops for now is the UK (where the movie was again No. 1) with a $16.2M cume. Russia follows with $8.4M, then Germany with $6.8M, Australia $6.6M and France $6.6M to round out the Top 5.

The China release on BR2049 was moved up this past week to October 27, but in a last-minute turn-around, WB’s Geostorm also landed that date. Japan opens BR2049 likewise on October 27.

KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

20th Century Fox With another $15.6M in the 4th session, Matthew Vaughn’s sequel is nearing $200M international with $197M through Sunday. Now in 66 markets, the spy actioner is outpacing its predecessor by 35% in the same markets and at current exchange rates. France opened No. 1 this frame with $4.6M.

Korea leads all markets at $35.3M, followed by the UK with $28.3M, Australia at $14M and Germany ($9.3M) and Mexico ($5.5M).

China gets in on the action on Friday, and Japan releases January 5.

IT

Warner Bros New Line/Warner Bros’ scary clown made another $10.4M on 5,185 screens in 65 markets this weekend. The running international cume is now $315.7M for $630.6M worldwide. Italy and Japan will be the final markets to release, on October 19 and November 3, respectively (this one’s not going to China). The Top 5 hubs are the UK ($41.7M), Germany ($29.4M), Mexico ($27.2M), Brazil ($19.4M) and Australia ($18.6M).

THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE

Warner’s third entry in the animated franchise picked up $9.5M in 64 markets currently in release, bringing the overseas cume to $45.4M. The UK opened to No. 1 with $5M on 1,056 screens. France followed ($741K/423 screens) and Italy debuted No. 3 ($552K/334 screens). That UK start makes it the top market in just the first weekend.

THE FOREIGNER

STXfilms From STX and Sparkle Roll, the Chinese co-production crossed $100M worldwide this weekend with the North American release adding $12.8M to the earlier offshore grosses. In China, where the Jackie Chan-starrer opened on September 30, it’s grossed $75.35M to date.

The full weekend offshore, where 11 markets were added, saw the crime drama pick up $6.4M for an international box office cume of $87.3M.