Date: 20th December 2002

Two Towers tops Fellowship


THE latest instalment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy has raked in $US42 million ($74.42 million) on its first day on worldwide screens - almost double the amount taken by its predecessor.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers opened in the United States and other key markets yesterday, taking $US26 million ($46.07 million) in North America and $US16 million ($28.35 million) elsewhere.

Hundreds of fans gathered at Sydney's Fox Studios last night for the Australian premiere.

It was attended by stars Miranda Otto - with her new partner actor Peter O'Brien - and David Wenham, as well as producer Barry Osborne and director of photography Andrew Lesnie.

The world-wide take was 45 per cent higher than ticket receipts for Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring a year ago, New Line Cinema said.

The film broke the single-day record in Denmark and opening day records in Germany, Austria, Finland, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and Norway.

"We're astounded at these numbers," said the studio's president of worldwide distribution and marketing Rolf Mittweg.

"Seeing increases in major territories speaks to the emerging worldwide phenomenon built around this trilogy.

"
This powerful response also illustrates the true universality of Tolkien's themes and the broad reach of (director Peter) Jackson's vision."

In the United States, the film surpassed the opening day receipts of its predecessor by 44 per cent and posted the second highest domestic opening ever, behind 1999's Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, which took $US28.5 million ($50.5 million).

The film is playing on 6633 screens in America and Canada, and 5000 more internationally.

Agence France-Presse

Source: Press Release