LOS ANGELES - Disaster swept the world during the weekend as the apocalyptic movie "2012" registered the biggest opening for a non-franchise movie.

The latest calamity epic from "Independence Day" director Roland Emmerich sold US$225 million (S$312 million) worth of tickets globally, distributor Columbia Pictures said on Sunday.

Moviegoers in the United States and Canada chipped in US$65 million, at the high end of bullish industry forecasts.

The foreign tally of US$160 million came from 105 countries, led by France with US$17.2 million, Russia with US$15.3 million and Emmerich's native Germany with US$12.4 million. It opens in Japan next weekend.

Columbia, a unit of Sony Corp, said "2012" recorded the highest worldwide opening ever for an original film not based on an established franchise, brand or best-selling novel.

In overall worldwide terms, it ranks at No. 9, behind pictures from such franchises as "Harry Potter," "Spider-Man" and "Star Wars," as well as the adaptation of "The Da Vinci Code." The record of US$394 million was set in July by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

"2012," which cost about US$200 million to make, uses the Mayan calendar and other end-of-days prophecies to depict the world's demise courtesy of a solar meltdown. Critics were predictably skeptical.

Columbia said the film received strong ratings from moviegoers in exit polling. Demographic data revealed that 45 percent of patrons were aged under 25.

The studio had been hoping for a worldwide opening in the US$150 million range, said Rory Bruer, Columbia's president of worldwide distribution.

"Christmas" cheer for Carrey

Last weekend's domestic champion, "A Christmas Carol," slipped to No. 2 with US$22.3 million, taking the 10-day haul for Walt Disney Co's animated Dickens adaptation to US$63.3 million. The film lost just 26 percent of its audience from its somewhat underwhelming opening last weekend, indicating that it could have durability as the holiday season approaches. Drops of about 50 percent are the norm.

The Jim Carrey vehicle also earned US$16 million internationally, including a top-ranked opening haul of US$3.1 million in Japan. The foreign total stands at US$34 million, early in the film's campaign.

The other big story in North America was "Precious," which jumped eight places to No. 4 with US$6.1 million in its second weekend of limited release.

The urban drama about a young incest survivor is playing in just nine cities, but will be in about 100 markets next weekend, when the "Twilight" sequel "New Moon" will likely open at No. 1. The total for "Precious" stands at US$8.9 million, said Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.

Just ahead of "Precious" was the George Clooney war satire "The Men Who Stare at Goats," which held steady at No. 3 with US$6.2 million - off 51 per cent in its second weekend. The 10-day total stands at US$23.4 million. It was released by Overture Films, a unit of Liberty Media Corp.

Michael Jackson's "This is It" fell three places to No. 5 with US$5.1 million in its third weekend. Columbia's concert documentary has earned US$67.2 million domestically and US$155.4 million internationally.

The only other new release in North America sank on launch. The British '60s comedy "Pirate Radio," starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, opened at No. 11 with US$2.9 million. The movie, which already failed internationally, was released by Focus Features, a unit of General Electric Co's NBC Universal.