WHAT A CROC

Paramount’s pickup from Australia, “Crocodile Dundee,” is past the $70-million mark in U.S. box office and the studios that passed on a chance for distribution must be kicking themselves.

UA, Columbia and Fox (which got international rights) owned up to rejecting “Dundee” in the U.S. Sources name Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal as having passed, but reps wouldn’t comment.

“We thought the Australian accents might not play here, but overseas they wouldn’t mind,” explained a Fox spokesman. “The strange thing is it didn’t cost much money to get it domestically.”

We heard a figure of $8 million for domestic theatrical distribution, TV, video and cable rights. A Paramount source said: “We hear that’s roughly in the ball park. Paramount also has first right of refusal on a projected sequel.”