International
Thor rules international box-office
MUMBAI: Paramount‘s Thor has claimed the weekend‘s No. 1 box-office spot on the international circuit with a gross of $83 million from about 7,250 locations in 56 overseas markets. This the year’s biggest opening weekend tally.
Director Kenneth Branagh‘s interpretation of a Stan Lee comic book opened at top spot in the UK and Ireland ($9 million from 500 situations over five days), in France ($8.1 million from 579 locales), South Korea ($5.7 million from 513 theatres), Italy ($5.5 million from 455 locations) and Spain ($5 million from 377 situations).
The film also recorded first-place openings in several smaller markets, including Taiwan ($2.1 million from 58 sites for a per-screen average of $36,206), Singapore and the Philippines. In Vietnam, the opener yielded $308,000 from 19 sites, which Paramount said was a three-day debut record for the market.
Universal‘s Fast Five, which also opened overseas last weekend (in the UK, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand) drew $45.3 million from 3,211 theatres in 14 territories taking its early foreign gross total to $81.4 million.
The film ranked No. 2 on the weekend overseas; in the U.S. and Canada opened at No. 1 on the weekend. Worldwide, the fifth sequel in the turbocharged car action franchise grossed $128.9 million.
The action film grabbed No. 1 slots in each of its 10 new overseas markets with Russia topping the pack with $11.5 million drawn from 712 sites. Other No. 1 debuts included Germany ($10.2 million from 633 spots), Austria ($1.4 million from 82 situations) and Turkey ($900,000 from 175 venues and Australia where it was on top with $4.7 million from 230 sites.
Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox‘s Rio slid to the fourth position in the weekend‘s No. 3 spot with $31.7 million 10,560 locations in 67 markets. And Fox‘s Water for Elephants picked up its box-office pace offshore with a $4.7 million weekend at 1,851 screens in 23 markets.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
