March 31 - April 2, 2006
THTRS = Number of Screens
* Denotes new release.
Click on title to read CB Review
| 1. | Ice Age: The Meltdown * |
| $70,500,000 - Total: $70,500,000 | |
| LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 3964 |
| 2. | Inside Man |
| $15,692,000 - Total: $52,763,000 | |
| LW: 1 WR: 2 THTRS: 2830 |
| 3. | ATL * |
| $12,545,000 - Total: $12,545,000 | |
| LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 1602 |
| 4. | Failure to Launch |
| $6,618,000 - Total: $73,243,000 | |
| LW: 4 WR: 4 THTRS: 3074 |
| 5. | V for Vendetta |
| $6,465,000 - Total: $56,830,000 | |
| LW: 2 WR: 3 THTRS: 2910 |
| 6. | Stay Alive |
| $4,575,000 - Total: $17,349,000 | |
| LW: 3 WR: 2 THTRS: 2009 |
| 7. | She's the Man |
| $4,571,000 - Total: $26,764,000 | |
| LW: 6 WR: 3 THTRS: 2552 |
| 8. | Slither * |
| $3,676,000 - Total: $3,676,000 | |
| LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 1945 |
| 9. | The Shaggy Dog |
| $3,535,000 - Total: $53,847,000 | |
| LW: 5 WR: 4 THTRS: 2929 |
| 10. | Basic Instinct 2 * |
| $3,200,000 - Total: $3,200,000 | |
| LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 1453 |
This weekend confirmed that Americans still really love to go to the movies. They just need a really good excuse to shell out the obscene dollar amounts studios are demanding. Unfortunately the first film this year to get the crowds out en masse had only this excuse to offer: your kids will nag you until you take them.
Ice Age: The Meltdown absolutely stole the show this weekend, raking in a bountiful $70 million. Not only does that make it the year's largest first weekend take (Madea's Family Reunion had held the honor for several weeks at $30 million) it also puts the movie in the unique position of making more than the rest of the top ten films combined. If that's not enough to impress you, the massive turn out makes The Meltdown more successful that its predecessor, a feat only occasionally achieved. The original Ice Age made $46 million its first weekend out.
Ice Age: The Meltdown wasn't the only sequel to be released this week but it was just about the only one to make the top ten. Sharon Stone's Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction is rolling around the number ten spot with Larry the Cable Guy's Health Inspector. The two are tied in estimates for the bottom slot and Monday's official tallies will determine whether or not Risk Addiction will get a top ten appearance. Either way, this poor of a turn out will hopefully seal the fate of the film franchise, giving us promise that the premise will never return to the screen again.
Horror/comedy romp Slither and drama ATL were the other two films to open in wide release this weekend. ATL made a promising showing with $12 million. It wasn't enough to overpower Inside Man which dropped down only one notch to second place. Despite bizarrely rave reviews from critics, Slither didn't draw much of a crowd, clearing little more than $3 million to take the number eight spot.
Next weekend is yet another onslaught of new films with four contestants entering the fray. Ex-SNL performer backed comedy The Benchwarmers, and Antonio Banderas' dance pic Take the Lead open in very wide release. Action/comedy Lucky Number Slevin will open in 1700 theaters while Mo'Nique's Phat Girlz, opening on 1100 screens will no doubt be hog wrestling with Larry and Sharon for the coveted number ten.
Finally, looking at the big picture, this week's success gave the box office a much needed boost. March is typically a mediocre month for movies but thanks to a little help from Ice Age: The Meltdown, year to date totals are back in line with the last several years. Now that this year is back in the running, the question is whether or not it will be able to hold on through the second quarter.
