'Madagascar 2' sets record in Russia

GLENDALE, Calif., Oct. 31 (UPI) -- "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" has scored the best opening day for a U.S. film in Russia and set the record for biggest opening day of all time in Ukraine.

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. announced the box-office achievements Friday.

In Russia, the animated animal film opened on 841 screens, grossing $2.81 million. In Ukraine, it opened on 92 screens and grossed $396,000.

"These numbers are confirmation of the worldwide popularity of the characters from the original film and the strength of the storytelling in the sequel. We are looking forward with enthusiasm to its worldwide release and domestic opening on Nov. 7," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive officer of DreamWorks Animation, in a statement.

The second installment in the franchise finds Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins, and the chimps still marooned on Madagascar and ready to undertake "a plan so crazy it just might work" to get back to New York. Repairing and flying an old crashed plane only gets them as far as Africa, however, and the zoo-raised gang encounters their own kind in the wild for the first time, DreamWorks said.

The voice cast from the original movie -- including Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock -- return for the sequel.