WEEKEND BOX OFFICE TOP
TEN
September 9 - 11, 2005 |
LW = Last
Week WR = Weeks Released
THTRS = Number of Screens
* Denotes new
release.
Click on title to read CB Review |
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| 2. | Hoodwinked
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$11,078,000 - Total: $29,304,000 | | LW: 3 WR:
2 THTRS: 3002 |
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| 3. | Glory Road
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$9,135,000 - Total: $28,075,000 | | LW: 1 WR:
2 THTRS: 2396 |
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| 4. | Last Holiday
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$9,100,000 - Total: $26,385,000 | | LW: 2 WR:
2 THTRS: 2514 |
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| 9. | Hostel
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$4,300,000 - Total: $42,728,000 | | LW: 5 WR:
3 THTRS: 2258 |
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| 10. | The New World
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$4,250,000 - Total: $4,440,000 | | LW: - WR:
5 THTRS: 811 |
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It just goes to show you that no matter how terrible a sequel you come up with,
people will still go see it if it involves athletic women in tight leather costumes
kicking the snot out of mutant smurfs. I'm not sure what that says about us as a
society, but Americans turned out to give Underworld: Evolution the highest
opening weekend of 2006 so far. Nevermind that critics and fans alike have been giving
it mediocre reviews at best, it was the widest opening show this weekend and took the
vampire's share of the loot.
The other new arrival in the top ten was based-on-a-true-story End of the
Spear. Despite a low key, grass roots sort of marketing campaign the movie made the
number eight slot but was fourth in per theater earnings among the top ten list. Not bad
for a movie on a shoe-string budget of $10 million dollars. On the bright side, half
the profits from the film will go to charity and the movie is nearly half way there to
turning some proceeds. Having seen it I can understand critics who feel its production
values are a bit rough (it has the feel of something filmed back in the 80s, and at
times the pacing falters) but the low blows over its spiritual content seem a bit
ridiculous. It would appear that some critics feel it's bad form to tell a present-day
story about overcoming violence if religion is somehow involved. I don't care for
movies that bash their audience over the head with out of place religious messages and
was glad the story managed to remain true to the real life ideals and beliefs of the
characters without getting preachy.
Brokeback Mountain forges forward with its upward climb as the studio
continues to slowly widens its release. Now showing in nearly 1200 theaters it jumped
from number nine to fifth place this week. At this point there are no plans for the
release to widen any further. This has marked one of the slowest expansions of a
dramatic films availability, a wise move on the part of a shrewd studio that understands
the economics of supply and demand, especially where a movie with huge controversy
potential is concerned. It will be interesting next week to see if the movie has
reached the peak or if there's a further summit up ahead.
Colin Farell's new Pocahontas pic The New World opened wider this week to
very little fan fare. After a month in limited showing it expanded to 800 theaters but
didn't do half as well as Brokeback Mountain did at about the same size release.
No word on when or if The New World will broaden its horizons but such a move
seems inevitable. With only $4.5 million in the bank it has a ways yet to go to recover
its $30 million budget (not to mention all those marketing costs).
King Kong finally slipped out of the top ten, conceding overall victory
to Aslan and the gang in Narnia. It's not surprising though. Without a major fan base to
back it up (like the Lord of the Rings had) Kong has faced a hard time sustaining repeat
viewings given its 3+ hour running time. Maybe if they brought back the intermission?
Next week Big Momma plays Mrs. Doubtfire, Mr. Franco goes to Annapolis and Nanny
McPhee gets busy racing the rescue of mistreated kids. Will Emma Thompson in creepy
make up or Martin Lawrence in a creepy fat suit reign supreme? My money's on the nanny.
I'm not telling which one.
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