“Forbidden Kingdom” marks the first time the two martial-arts stars have appeared together on the bigscreen. Pairing proved potent enough for the film to open No. 1 in all new markets; China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

It grabbed a boffo $11.4 million from its China launch. According to news agency Xinhua, that’s one of the best showings ever for a non-Chinese film. Hua Yi Bros. is distributing in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Distrib hired “Forbidden Kingdom” director Rob Minkoff (“The Lion King”) to promote the movie in some of its territories.

“Forbidden Kingdom,” produced by Casey Silver and financed by Relativity Media, cumed $23 million internationally through April 27, according to Rentrak. In its first 10 days, film has grossed $61.3 million worldwide.

Outside of “Forbidden Kingdom,” action was quiet at the overseas box office in the last sesh before Hollywood begins rolling out its summer tentpoles, beginning with Paramount’s “Iron Man,” which began rolling out May 3.

Placing second for the weekend internationally was Universal’s raunchy romantic comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” which grossed $7.1 million from 1,000 playdates for an international cume of $9.6 million in its second sesh. Bawdy laffer from producer Judd Apatow opened impressively in the U.K., grossing $4.3 million from 393 screens.

It’s the best opening international number ever for an Apatow pic.

Bookers attribute the upbeat debut to the growing following for the multihyphenate Apatow, as well as the blossoming bigscreen popularity of local comic Russell Brand, and a bullish campaign from the distrib.

A London-based exhib said, “Brand testing his mettle in his first big Hollywood movie tweaked the interest of British audiences keen to see their boy do good in Tinseltown.”

“Sarah Marshall” also showed impressive traction in its Australian soph sesh, declining only 7% to $1.6 million.

Sony’s gambling drama “21” came in No. 3 over the April 25-27 frame, grossing $6.1 million from 1,775, nearly all through holdover biz. Pic has cumed a healthy $30.7 million internationally.

Gritty Keanu Reeves-Forest Whitaker cop actioner “Street Kings” placed No. 4 for the frame, grossing $6 million from 2,650 in 45 territories, led by its Spanish opening of $1 million as it battled “Fool’s Gold” for first.

Twentieth Century Fox’s family toon “Horton Hears a Who!” stayed on the upper reaches of the international B.O., grossing an estimated $5 million for a cume of $125.9 million.

“Horton” narrowly beat out Warner Bros.’ romantic adventure “Fool’s Gold” to place No. 5 for the weekend. “Fool’s Gold” grossed $5 million from 1,600 in 40 markets for a cume of $26.5 million. Film saw modest launch in Germany with $929,000 for second place.

Taking the No. 7 spot on the international box office chart was Paramount’s “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” which grossed $4.2 million from 2,896 in 64 markets for an international cume of $80.8 million, ahead of its domestic cume of $70.9 million.

The only film to make noise in Europe was Gallic big-budget laffer/crime pic “Cash,” toplining Jean Reno as a gentleman thief. Pic grossed $3.8 million in its French launch, good enough to come in No. 8 overall internationally and No. 1 in Gaul.

Scribe-turned-helmer Eric Besnard’s caper was hailed as “pure champagne escapism” by Tele 7 Jours.

French blockbuster “Welcome to the Sticks” fell off the top 10 chart for the first time in weeks. It remained welcoming enough to place No. 2 in France, grossing $2.6 million for a whopping cume of $183.4 million.

Placing No. 9 at the international box office over the April 25-27 frame was Disney’s dance pic “Step Up 2 the Streets,” which grossed $3.4 million for a cume of $82.9 million.

Coming in No. 20 was Fox’s swords-and-sandals spoof “Meet the Spartans,” grossing $2.8 million for a cume of $42.6 million. Pic has been a decent overseas performer for Fox, including a $2.3 million Italian launch of $2.3 million over the April 25-27 weekend.

Archie Thomas in the U.K., Ed Meza in Germany, David Hayhurst in France, Nick Vivarelli in Italy and Emilio Mayorga in Spain contributed to this report.

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