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Nicolas Cage logged a third weekend atop the North American box office on Sunday with his action-adventure "National Treasure," but overall ticket sales slid as movies competed for attention with shopping in the post-Thanksgiving holiday period.
One of the hardest-hit films was director Oliver Stone's "Alexander," which earned an estimated $4.7 million in the three days beginning Friday, losing about two-thirds of its opening-weekend tally as it dropped one place to No. 7.
The $150 million swords-and-sandals epic, starring Colin Farrell as the youthful Macedonian warrior, has pulled in $29.7 million after 12 days, and should finish with about $40 million, said a spokesman for Warner Bros. Pictures. The studio paid $35 million for North American rights from producer Intermedia Films, a unit of Munich-based IM Internationalmedia AG. Intermedia has said it expects the film to do much better internationally, just as "Troy" did recently.
"National Treasure" dug up an estimated $17.1 million, taking its total to $110.3 million. The Walt Disney Co. picture is on track to surpass 1996's "The Rock" ($134 million) as Cage's biggest movie.
The only new entry in the top 10 was director Mike Nichols' potty-mouthed adultery drama "Closer," which opened at No. 6 with $7.7 million, a hefty number for a limited release.
Columbia Pictures' London-set drama, an adaptation of a play by British playwright Patrick Marber, stars Julia Roberts as a photographer who beds both Jude Law's journalist character and Clive Owen's dermatologist. Natalie Portman plays a stripper who also gets sack time with both men.
While all the movies in the top five played in more than 3,100 theaters each, "Closer" was launched in just 476 to "give it some time to mature," said Rory Bruer, president of domestic theatrical distribution at the Sony Corp.-owned studio. "It's daring, it's provocative, people are going to talk about it."
The studio will add 150 runs next weekend, and hopes the film's momentum will be boosted as critics' groups start naming their top picks of the year.
TICKET SALES SLIDE
According to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, the top 12 films earned $80 million, down 47 percent from last weekend, and off 10 percent from the year-ago period, when Tom Cruise's "The Last Samurai" opened at No. 1 with $24.3 million.
Columbia's holiday comedy "Christmas with the Kranks," starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, rose one place to No. 2 with $11.7 million. After two weekends, the film has earned $45.5 million.
The costly computer-animated children's fable "The Polar Express," which started off slowly three weeks ago, is still chugging along, rising one to No. 3 with $11.0 million. The total for Warner Bros.' $170 million-budgeted production rose to $96.4 million. The Time Warner Inc.-owned studio partnered on the project with real-estate heir Steve Bing.
A Warners spokesman predicted the Tom Hanks film would at least hit $130 million. He noted that it was No. 2 to "National Treasure" during the week, while its 43 percent drop from last weekend was the smallest among the wide releases in the top 10.
The superhero cartoon "The Incredibles" fell two places to No. 4 with $9.2 million in its fifth weekend, taking its total to $226 million. The Disney-distributed film was produced by Pixar Animation Studios Inc.
Yet another cartoon, "The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie," held steady at No. 5 with $7.8 million in its third weekend. The total for the cable TV adaptation rose to $68.4 million. It was released by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc.
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__________________
"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
"Ocean's Twelve," the heist caper that George Clooney, Brad Pitt and their A-list pals shot in their spare time while living it up in Europe, stole the No. 1 slot at the North American weekend box office.
According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, the Warner Bros. film sold $40.9 million worth of tickets in the three days since opening on Dec. 10.
It marks the fourth-biggest opening for a December release, after the "Lord of the Rings" movies, and narrowly surpassed its 2001 predecessor, "Ocean's Eleven," which opened with $38.1 million in 200 fewer theaters and finished with $184 million.
Not so good was the opening of "Blade: Trinity," Wesley Snipes' third turn as the half-human/half-vampire title character of the Marvel comic book series. The New Line Cinema release opened at No. 2 with $16.1 million for the weekend and $24.6 million since its Wednesday launch. Pre-release forecasts had it starting in the $32.5 million range of 2002's "Blade II."
"We had a solid opening," said David Tuckerman, New Line's distribution president.
After ruling the box office for three weekends, Nicolas Cage's action-adventure "National Treasure" (Walt Disney Pictures) slipped to No. 3 with $10 million, taking the total for the Walt Disney Co. release to $124.2 million.
Close behind was Warner Bros.' animated holiday fable "The Polar Express" with $9.8 million, down only 9 percent from last weekend -- easily the smallest drop in the top 10. The total rose to $110 million. The studio expects it will easily pass $150 million. The film, which cost about $175 million to make, got off to a slow start four weeks ago, but has held its own since.
"Christmas with the Kranks" rounded out the top five with $7.6 million. Columbia Pictures' holiday comedy, starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, has made $54.8 million after three weekends, and should finish above $80 million, said an official with the Sony Corp.-owned studio.
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"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
Comedian Jim Carrey returned to the top of the North American box office with the grim children's movie "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events."
But the tidings were not as happy on Sunday for two other new releases, the Adam Sandler film "Spanglish" and Dennis Quaid's remake of "Flight of the Phoenix."
"Lemony Snicket" sold $30.2 million worth of tickets in the three days since opening on Friday, according to estimates provided by its distributor, Paramount Pictures, on Sunday.
The figure was in line with industry expectations, but paled against the $68 million opening of Carrey's last chart-topper, "Bruce Almighty," over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in May 2003.
Last weekend's champion, the all-star crime caper "Ocean's Twelve" (Warner Bros.), slipped to No. 2 with estimated sales of $18.3 million. After 10 days, it has earned $68.7 million vs. $72.3 million at the same time for its 2001 predecessor "Ocean's Eleven."
"Spanglish" (Columbia) opened at No. 3 with about $9.0 million, about half of what industry observers had been expecting.
The animated family film "The Polar Express" (Warner Bros.) held steady at No. 4 for a third weekend with $8.6 million. The surprise hit of the holidays, the film has now earned $123.6 million after a slow start. Wesley Snipes' superhero adaptation "Blade: Trinity" (New Line) fell three places to No. 5 with $6.6 million in its second weekend, a drop of 59 percent. Its total rose to $35.4 million. Both studios are owned by Time Warner Inc .
"Flight of the Phoenix" (Fox), meanwhile, crashed at No. 8 with $5.2 million.
LIMITED RELEASES
In the limited release world, two awards contenders began their campaigns strongly. Director Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" (Miramax), starring Leonardo DiCaprio as eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, grossed about $831,000 from 40 theaters. Actor/director Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.) starring Hilary Swank as a plucky boxer, scored almost $178,000 from eight theaters in its first round. Miramax Films is a unit of Walt Disney Co.
Overall sales fell from the year-ago period but were essentially unchanged from last weekend, according to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. The top 12 movies grossed about $100.3 million, down 25 percent from last year, when "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" opened at No. 1.
"Lemony Snicket," a dark adventure based on the first three books of the popular children's series by Daniel Handler, stars Carrey as the evil Count Olaf, who must care for three young orphans. The film, budgeted at about $140 million, was directed by Brad Silberling ("City of Angels").
As with recent animated hit "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," it was developed by Nickelodeon Movies, the film arm of the Nickelodeon kids cable channel which, like Paramount, is owned by Viacom Inc.
"Spanglish," from writer/director James L. Brooks ("As Good As It Gets") stars Sandler, Téa Leoni, Cloris Leachman and Spanish actress Paz Vega in a domestic comedy-drama fueled by marital tension. It was budgeted near $80 million.
Industry observers had expected an opening in the mid- to high-teen millions, although Columbia's forecast was in the $8 million-$12 million range, said Rory Bruer, the Sony Corp .-owned studio's president of domestic theatrical distribution. He predicted the movie would "be around for quite a while," as is often the case with Brooks' films.
"Flight of the Phoenix," a remake of the 1965 Jimmy Stewart film, stars Dennis Quaid as the captain of a transport plane that has crashed in the Gobi Desert. The film, budgeted in the mid-$40 million range, was directed by John Moore ("Behind Enemy Lines").
Industry expectations were modest, but Fox had hoped for an opening above $6 million, said Bruce Snyder, president of domestic theatrical distribution at the News Corp.-owned studio. "It's much too early to be disappointed," Snyder added.
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"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
"Meet the Fockers" was the most popular movie in North America for a second weekend, and has now earned almost as much as its 2000 predecessor, "Meet the Parents," did in its entire run, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.
The broad family comedy, starring Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller and Dustin Hoffman, sold $42.8 million worth of tickets in the three days beginning Friday. Its total after 12 days rose to $163.4 million. "Meet the Parents," by contrast, ended its run with $166 million.
Both films were distributed in North America by Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric Co.-controlled NBC Universal, which split the budget with closely held DreamWorks SKG.
"Fockers" set two records over the weekend. Its Friday haul of $12.2 million was the best for New Year's Eve, beating "Cast Away's" four-year-old record of $8.5 million. It continued its winning ways the next day with sales of $18 million, surpassing the New Year's Day record of $12.8 million set last year by "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
As is the case for this time of the year, there were no new releases in the top 10, and the rankings were little changed. The children's comedy "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" held steady at a distant No. 2 with $14.7 million, followed by the Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator" which rose one place to No. 3 with $11.2 million.
The TV cartoon adaptation "Fat Albert" fell one to No. 4 with $10.7 million, and the all-star crime caper "Ocean's Twelve" was stable at No. 5 with $9.2 million.
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"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
The horror of meeting the in-laws beat out the fright flick at theaters this weekend. "Meet the Fockers" took in $28.5 million to remain the top movie for the third straight weekend, holding off the horror newcomer "White Noise," which debuted a strong No. 2 with $24 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The two movies paced Hollywood to a healthy start for the year, with the top 12 films grossing $98.3 million, up 8 percent from the same weekend in 2004.
That comes after a holiday surge sparked by "Meet the Fockers" lifted Hollywood to a record $9.4 billion domestic haul in 2004. Though the year's revenues were up, higher admission prices mean movie attendance was off about 1.7 percent, so the solid beginning positions the industry for a healthier 2005.
"The end of the year was stronger than expected, so headed into the first of the year, we have some momentum going," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "Studios just need to keep the momentum in the market place, because once you lose it, it takes a long time to get back."
Since opening just before Christmas, "Meet the Fockers" has taken in $204.3 million, topping the $166.2 million total of its predecessor, "Meet the Parents."
The comedy sequel reunites Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro as prospective in-laws with a shaky relationship, adding Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand to the cast as Stiller's zany parents.
The superstar cast and the movie's universal theme has made "Meet the Fockers" an easy sell to audiences.
"It hits home, doesn't it? Conflicts between in-laws, everybody's been there," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal, which released "Meet the Fockers" and "White Noise."
Critics hated "White Noise," which stars Michael Keaton as a man convinced his dead wife is trying to communicate with him through his television. Yet scary movies tend to have a built-in audience of horror fans, who turn out in huge numbers over opening weekend.
The box office often plunges for fright flicks in their second weekend, though some manage stronger staying power, such as last year's $100 million hit "The Grudge," which most critics also panned.
"White Noise" producer Paul Brooks said he hopes his movie can defy the critics, too, and hold up well beyond opening weekend.
"It's always fascinated me, the way critics work," said Brooks, who also produced "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." "They have a particular view of a film which sometimes can be significantly at odds with what the man on the street and the lady on the street and the kid on the street want to see."
Two films embraced by critics, Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" and Terry George's "Hotel Rwanda," had strong showings as they expanded from limited release.
"Million Dollar Baby," starring Eastwood as mentor to a strong-willed boxer (Hilary Swank), took in $2 million in 109 theaters, up from nine theaters the previous weekend.
"Hotel Rwanda," featuring Don Cheadle as a real-life hotel manager who sheltered refugees during the 1990s Rwandan genocide, grossed $1.15 million in 105 theaters, up from seven the previous weekend.
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"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
Samuel L. Jackson bounced "Meet the Fockers" from the top spot at the North American box office after three weekends with his basketball movie "Coach Carter," while Jennifer Garner dropped the first bomb of the year with her superheroine saga "Elektra."
According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, "Coach Carter" sold $23.6 million worth of tickets in the three days beginning Jan. 14, followed by "Fockers" with $19.0 million.
"Elektra," which was crushed by the critics, opened at No. 5 with $12.5 million. Even Halle Berry's unloved "Catwoman" did better, opening to $16.7 million last July.
Two other top-10 debutants were in a tight race for the Nos. 3 and 4 slots. The animated family movie "Racing Stripes" crossed the finish line with $14.0 million. The comedy-drama "In Good Company," starring Dennis Quaid, jumped 29 places to No. 4 with $13.9 million in its first weekend of wide release.
"Coach Carter," based on a true story, stars Jackson as a hoops coach who raises a storm by pulling his hit players from the local competition so that they can focus on improving their anemic high school grades. The film, budgeted at about $30 million, was released by Paramount Pictures in conjunction with its Viacom Inc. corporate sibling MTV Films.
"Elektra," which was crushed by the critics, opened at No. 5 with $12.5 million. Even Halle Berry's unloved "Catwoman" did better, opening to $16.7 million last July. OUCH !!
__________________
"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
The road trip comedy "Are We There Yet?" earned $18.5 million to quickly arrive at first place in the weekend box office.
The family picture starring rapper-actor Ice Cube in its opening weekend sent "Coach Carter" back to the bench when the basketball drama brought in $11 million for second place, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
"Assault on Precinct 13," a remake of the 1976 "cult classic" about cops and criminals joining forces against a jail siege by gang members, took in $7 million in its first weekend and finished sixth in the box office tally.
Final figures were to be released Monday.
"Are We There Yet?" follows Cube as he embarks on a road trip with two manipulative children who he tolerates only because he is trying to woo their attractive divorced mother.
Showing in wide release at 2,709 theaters, "Are We There Yet?" averaged $6,829 a cinema.
"It's a total family picture," said Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures. "It's very funny and Ice Cube did a terrific job. He's just hysterical in it."
Cube, 35, next will be in "XXX: State of the Union," scheduled for release in April. The action film sequel also will feature Samuel L. Jackson, star of "Coach Carter."
The PG-13 rated comedy continued the trend of family films performing well at the box office, especially over the past six months, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
"It's a very appealing genre. Families are always looking for entertainment, something that is suitable for the whole family," he said.
The comedy played well across demographics, with an audience breakdown of 43 percent white, 26 percent black and 18 Hispanic, Bruer said.
"Meet the Fockers," another PG-13 rated film, continued to do well and is marching toward becoming the highest grossing live-action comedy of all time. The in-law farce collected $10.2 million over the weekend to push its five week total to $247.7 million.
The blockbuster comedy moved into second place in the live-action comedy category behind record-holder "Home Alone," which earned $285.8 million. The God-comedy "Bruce Almighty" dropped to third place at $242.7 million.
The blizzard that swept across the Midwest and clobbered the Northeast kept many movie fans from the theaters, but the numbers remained slightly higher than the same weekend last year, Dergarabedian said.
Revenues from the top 12 movies were up 3.9 percent from last year.
__________________
"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
De Niro Finds Top Spot at Box Office Again Sunday January 30, 2005
Robert De Niro returned to the No. 1 slot at the North American box office on Sunday with the thriller "Hide and Seek" six weeks after his comedy "Meet the Fockers" began a three-week reign.
Several films that featured prominently when Academy Award nominations were unveiled on Tuesday enjoyed stronger ticket sales over the weekend after going into wide release.
"Hide and Seek" earned an estimated $22 million from 3,005 theaters in the three days since opening Friday, said its distributor, 20th Century Fox. De Niro plays a widower whose daughter, played by Dakota Fanning, has a creepy imaginary friend.
The News Corp.-owned studio had hoped the $30 million film would open with about $18 million, said Bruce Snyder, president of domestic distribution at Fox.
"The element of a real actor in a psychological thriller certainly elevated it," he said.
Last weekend's top movie, the Columbia Pictures family comedy "Are We There Yet?," slipped to No. 2 with $17 million, taking its 10-day haul to $39.1 million. Despite modest ratings in exit surveys last weekend, the Ice Cube comedy lost just 8 percent of its audience, the slightest dip in the top 10. Columbia is a unit of Sony Corp.
EASTWOOD WINS A ROUND
"Million Dollar Baby," which picked up seven Oscar nominations, jumped nine places to No. 3 with $11.8 million, after six weekends in limited release. Director Clint Eastwood's tale of a feisty pugilist played by Hilary Swank, was playing in 2,010 theaters, up from 147 last weekend.
The film was released by Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., which had been expecting a $10 million weekend. Its total stands at $21.1 million.
Eastwood on Saturday night snagged the top prize at the Directors Guild of America Awards, an event that has correctly foreshadowed 50 of the last 56 Oscar winners for best director.
Leading Oscar contender "The Aviator," with 11 nominations, jumped two places to No. 6 with $7.5 million. Director Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic added 242 theaters, taking its total to 2,503 outlets. The film has earned $68.2 million to date, and could reach $100 million, said Miramax Films, which is distributing it in the United States. Warner Bros. is releasing it in Canada; the figures combine sales from both territories.
"Sideways," with five nominations, finally made it into the top 10 in its 15th week. The oenophile comedy jumped four places to No. 7 with $6.3 million, taking its total to $40 million. It expanded to 1,694 theaters from 696 last weekend. The film was released by News Corp.'s Fox Searchlight Pictures.
"Million Dollar Baby," "The Aviator" and "Sideways" will all compete for best picture at the 77th annual Academy Awards on Feb. 27. The other two contenders for the top prize, Miramax's "Finding Neverland" and Universal's "Ray," also performed solidly, having been in theaters longer.
"Finding Neverland," earned $2.7 million from 1,258 theaters, taking its total to $35.9 million after 12 weeks. "Ray," which comes out on home video on Tuesday, earned $559,000 from 527 theaters. It has earned $73.8 million after 14 weeks.
Rounding out this weekend's top five, "Coach Carter" fell two places to No. 4 with $8 million in its third week. Paramount Pictures' Samuel L. Jackson basketball drama has earned $53.6 million to date.
Universal's "Meet the Fockers" also fell two places, to No. 5, with $7.6 million in its sixth week. The comedy has earned $257.9 million to date.
__________________
"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
The new low-budget thriller "Boogeyman" haunted the No. 1 slot at the weekend box office in North America on Sunday, a day when movie theaters will be lucky to scare up much business in the face of competition from the Super Bowl.
"Boogeyman" earned an estimated $19.5 million since opening on Friday without press previews, a tactic studios sometimes adopt for films that fans will rush out and see even if the critics are revolted.
The $7 million film set a new record for a film opening on Super Bowl weekend, beating last year's $16.1 million bow of the hip-hop flavored drama "You Got Served."
Both films were released by Screen Gems, the genre arm of Sony Corp .'s Columbia Pictures. The studio said it had hoped "Boogeyman" would open in the mid-teens. Barry Watson (TV's "7th Heaven") stars as a young man tormented by a childhood run-in with the titular monster.
The project was shot in New Zealand by "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures, the company behind the recent smash "The Grudge," which opened with $39.1 million last October. "Boogeyman" was able to piggyback on the "Grudge" success since its trailer screened before the main attraction.
With the country focused on the Super Bowl XXXIX match between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, kicking off at 1830 EST (2330 GMT) in Jacksonville, Fla., the top-10 contained just one other new release.
"The Wedding Date," a romantic comedy targeted at female moviegoers looking for an alternative to football, beer and nachos, opened at No. 2 with $11.0 million, exceeding low industry expectations.
The film marks the feature headlining debut of Debra Messing, the Emmy-winning star of "Will & Grace," who plays a woman left weak at the knees by the studly male escort (Dermot Mulroney) she hires to impress her family.
Budgeted at under $15 million, it was produced by Gold Circle Films, one of the companies behind the indie smash "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Gold Circle is backed by Norm Waitt, co-founder of computer maker Gateway Inc. . Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric Co. -controlled NBC Universal, released the film under a deal with Gold Circle.
The No. 3 slot went to Columbia's Ice Cube comedy "Are We There Yet?," which earned $10.4 million in its third weekend. With $51.1 million in the bag so far, the studio expects it to end up with more than $70 million, marking yet another profitable outing for the star of the hit "Friday" franchise.
Last weekend's champion, the Robert De Niro thriller "Hide and Seek," fell to No. 4 with $8.9 million. Its 10-day total stands at $35.7 million. The film should finish near the $55 million level, said its distributor, Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.'s. Fox Entertainment Group Inc. .
"Million Dollar Baby" performed the best of the three best-picture Oscar nominees in the top-10, falling two places to No. 5 with $8.7 million. The total for Clint Eastwood 's boxing melodrama rose to $34.7 million. The film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc. .
Oscar rival "The Aviator" held steady at No. 6 with $5.5 million and a total of $75.9 million. The Howard Hughes biopic was released in the United States by Miramax Films, a unit of Walt Disney Co., and in Canada by Warner Bros.
The oenophile comedy "Sideways" was unchanged at No. 8 with $4.8 million, and a total of $46.8 million, marking the biggest picture ever released by its distributor, Fox Searchlight Pictures. The previous best for News Corp.'s art house arm was 1997's "The Full Monty" with $45 million.
__________________
"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Will Smith spread the love at the weekend box office in North America as "Hitch" hiked to the No. 1 slot with a record opening for a romantic comedy, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.
The film sold a better-than-expected $45.3 million worth of tickets in the three days since opening on Friday, and gave its distributor, Sony Pictures, a rare trifecta at the box office.
The Sony Corp.-owned studio also claimed the No. 2 spot with last weekend's champion, the horror movie "Boogeyman," which was followed by another former chart-topper, the Ice Cube comedy "Are We There Yet?"
A Sony official said the last time a studio won the trifecta was in 1989 when Universal Pictures ruled with "Sea of Love," "Uncle Buck" and "Parenthood."
The previous record for a romantic comedy bow was held by Sony's "50 First Dates," which kicked off a year ago with $39.9 million.
Smith, better known for action flicks like "Independence Day" and "Men in Black," makes his romantic comedy bow in "Hitch" as a "date doctor" who has trouble following his own rules. Eva Mendes and Kevin James co-starred. Smith's company, Overbrook Entertainment, also produced the $70 million film. Sony said it would have been happy with an opening in the mid-$30 million range.
"Boogeyman," a low-budget horror film, earned $10.8 million in its second weekend, taking its 10-day haul to $33.3 million. While such genre pictures can lose up to two-thirds of their audience in their second weekends, "Boogeyman" slipped just 43 percent.
"Are We There Yet?" also enjoyed a good hold, off just 20 percent to $8.5 million as it held steady at No. 3. It has earned $61.5 million after four weekends.
Oscar nominee "Million Dollar Baby" rose one to No. 5 with $7.6 million, for a total of $45.1 million to date. Director Clint Eastwood's boxing melodrama was released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc.
Walt Disney Co's kids cartoon "Pooh's Heffalump Movie" opened at No. 5 with $6.0 million, in line with the studio's expectations.
In the limited-release world, "Bride and Prejudice," a "Bollywood"-inspired update of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," opened with a strong $388,000 from 32 theaters. It was released by Disney's Miramax Films.
The documentary "Inside Deep Throat," which takes a look at the infamous adult film, aroused $91,000 from 12 theaters. It was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric Co.-controlled NBC Universal.
__________________
"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
Will Smith's romantic comedy "Hitch" led the North American box office for a second consecutive weekend, narrowly fending off a strong challenge from the new Keanu Reeves sci-fi thriller "Constantine," according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.
With overall business buoyed by the U.S. Presidents Day holiday on Monday, "Hitch" earned about $31.8 million for the three days beginning Feb. 18, while "Constantine" opened at No. 2 with $30.5 million.
Hitch," released by Sony Corp.'s Columbia Pictures, stars Smith as a date coach who has trouble getting his own romantic life in order. After 10 days, the $70 million budgeted film has earned $90.1 million, and should hit $150 million, said Rory Bruer, Columbia's president of distribution.
He attributed the film's strong hold to both its romantic element as well as to the broad comedic dynamic between Smith's character and that played by Kevin James, who portrays a corpulent client trying to lure a woman way out of his league.
"Constantine," based on the relatively obscure "Hellblazer" comic book series, stars Reeves in the title role as an exorcist who must send Satan's minions back to hell. Distributor Warner Bros., the film's domestic distributor, said the opening exceeded expectations, noting that Reeves' 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix" opened with $27 million. But critics blasted the dark tone and confusing narrative.
The film, budgeted at under $100 million, was a joint venture between Time Warner Inc.-owned Warner Bros. Pictures and Australia's Village Roadshow Ltd .
The top 10 contained two other new entries: the family film "Because of Winn-Dixie" opened at No. 3 with $10.9 million, followed by the kids comedy "Son of the Mask" at No. 4 with $7.7 million.
"Because of Winn-Dixie" revolves around a lonely young girl (newcomer AnnaSophia Robb) and an orphaned dog in a small town. Jeff Daniels plays her father. The $14 million movie was released by Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of News Corp.'s Fox Entertainment Group Inc .
"Son of the Mask," a sequel to the 1994 hit Jim Carrey film "The Mask" stars Jamie Kennedy as the father of a child who is born with the Mask's special powers. Carrey was not associated with the followup, which was released by Time Warner's New Line Cinema.
Actor/director Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated film "Million Dollar Baby" rounded out the top five, falling one place to No. 5 with $7.2 million; the total for the Warner Bros. release rose to $54.7 million.
Illustrating the limited appeal of the best picture nominees before the Feb. 27 Academy Awards, Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" has been the most popular contender, with a box office haul of $88.1 million after 10 weekends. The Howard Hughes biopic is currently at No. 9 after a $4.2 million weekend. It was released in the United States by Walt Disney Co.'s Miramax Films, and in Canada by Warner Bros.
__________________
"If Chuck is Solo, Larkin is his Fett!" - Morgan
'Mad Black Woman' Tops Weekend Box Office Sunday February 27, 2005
"Diary of a Mad Black Woman" got its revenge against mixed critics' reviews by earning $22.7 million and taking first place at the weekend box office.
The drama-comedy is based on a script by Tyler Perry from his play of the same name and also features him cross-dressed as a gun-toting grandmother and in two other supporting roles. The film's strong debut pushed Will Smith's romantic comedy "Hitch" to the second spot with a weekend haul of $21 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Films contending for top honors at the Academy Awards also continued to draw healthy audiences with best picture nominees "Million Dollar Baby," "The Aviator" and "Sideways" ranked among the top 11 films.
Final figures were to be released Monday.
"Diary of a Mad Black Woman" follows Kimberly Elise's character, Helen, who is kicked out of her house by her husband on their 18th wedding anniversary so his longtime mistress can move in. Helen recovers from heartbreak by reconnecting with her cantankerous grandmother Madea, played by Perry, and by relying on her faith.
The film received some poor reviews, with The Associated Press giving it a single star in its four-star rating system and National Public Radio describing it as "half inspired and half really, really terrible."
Showing in 1,483 theaters, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" averaged a healthy $15,307 a cinema.
Perry, who has gained a strong following among blacks with his plays, should be given credit for the film's success, said Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate Films Releasing.
"The performance of the film is really a testament to Tyler Perry," Ortenberg said. "He's a cultural phenomenon that is taking America by storm. In the next few weeks, those unfamiliar with Tyler will become familiar with Tyler."
Audiences in exit polls gave the film an A-plus rating and the vast majority said they would recommend the PG-13 rated film to others, Ortenberg said.
"Every once in a while there is a film that comes out of nowhere and grabs the No. 1 spot and certainly 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' has done that," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "It shows the power that the urban audience wields at the box office."
"Hitch," another PG-13 rated film, played widely in 3,571 theaters and its $122 million over three weeks made it the first film in 2005 to crack the $100 million mark.
"Million Dollar Baby," which stars best-actress nominee Hilary Swank as a bullheaded boxer, ranked sixth with an estimated $7.2 million. Fellow best-picture nominees "The Aviator," a biopic about Howard Hughes, finished in ninth with $3.9 million, while the drinking road-trip movie "Sideways" ranked 11th with $3.5 million.
The latest Wes Craven horror film, "Cursed," debuted in fourth place with $9.6 million, while the weekend's other new film, the action-comedy "Man of the House" starring Tommy Lee Jones, opened in fifth place with $9 million.
Revenues from the top 12 movies were estimated at $105.4 million, down 24.6 percent from the same weekend last year. The comparison was skewed because Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" debuted last year with $83.8 million.
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