SUBMITTED BY Timbo

February 17, 2004 — If box office receipts are anything to go by, Tom Cruise is truly an international star.

"The Last Samurai" is fast closing in on $300 million abroad, reinforcing topliner Tom Cruise's reputation of consistently being able to parlay his films to much bigger results internationally than at home.

"The Last Samurai" flew to $295.3 million after banking $12.8 million from roughly 4,700 screens in 55 territories. The warrior saga minted $2 million in its 11th stanza in Japan, which means it has raked in more in that territory --- $111.5 million --- than domestically. Europe has contributed $134.1 million.

That continues the pattern of Cruise's "Minority Report," which grossed $226 million internationally and $132 million at home.

Read the rest at the link below.