DISNEY - FRENCH RAT REIGNS IN GERMANY

Franco-German relations improved over the weekend as a German-language version of Disney/Pixar's Ratatouille opened at No. 1 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The film earned $12.2 million in Germany alone. David Kornblum, who heads Disney's international sales and distribution, told Reuters that the animated film, whose plot takes place at a French restaurant, was "like a vacuum cleaner in Germany," sucking up most of the business there. The Bourne Ultimatum, which had led the overseas box office for six of the seven previous weeks, dropped to third place with about $5.7 million, edged out of second place by I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, which grossed $6.7 million.

08/10/2007