New Year's Weekend, 2005 - 2006
THTRS = Number of Screens
* Denotes new release.
Click on title to read CB Review
| 1. | The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion, The Witch, andThe Wardrobe |
| $25,720,000 - Total: $217,711,000 | |
| LW: 2 WR: 4 THTRS: 3853 |
| 1. | The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion, The Witch, andThe Wardrobe |
| $32,848,000 - Total: $224,839,000 | |
| LW: 2 WR: 4 THTRS: 3853 |
| 2. | King Kong |
| $24,591,000 - Total: $167,324,000 | |
| LW: 1 WR: 3 THTRS: 3627 |
| 2. | King Kong |
| $31,591,000 - Total: $174,324,000 | |
| LW: 1 WR: 3 THTRS: 3627 |
| 3. | Fun with Dick and Jane |
| $16,400,000 - Total: $59,968,000 | |
| LW: 3 WR: 2 THTRS: 3056 |
| 3. | Fun with Dick and Jane |
| $21,000,000 - Total: $64,568,000 | |
| LW: 3 WR: 2 THTRS: 3056 |
| 4. | Cheaper by the Dozen 2 |
| $14,250,000 - Total: $50,077,000 | |
| LW: 4 WR: 2 THTRS: 3211 |
| 4. | Cheaper by the Dozen 2 |
| $19,300,000 - Total: $55,127,000 | |
| LW: 4 WR: 2 THTRS: 3211 |
| 5. | Rumor Has It |
| $9,245,000 - Total: $24,320,000 | |
| LW: 10 WR: 2 THTRS: 2815 |
| 5. | Rumor Has It |
| $11,625,000 - Total: $26,700,000 | |
| LW: 10 WR: 2 THTRS: 2815 |
| 6. | The Family Stone |
| $8,075,000 - Total: $44,112,000 | |
| LW: 6 WR: 3 THTRS: 2464 |
| 6. | The Family Stone |
| $10,200,000 - Total: $46,237,000 | |
| LW: 6 WR: 3 THTRS: 2464 |
| 7. | Memoirs of a Geisha |
| $7,800,000 - Total: $28,211,000 | |
| LW: 5 WR: 4 THTRS: 1547 |
| 7. | Memoirs of a Geisha |
| $10,000,000 - Total: $30,411,000 | |
| LW: 5 WR: 4 THTRS: 1547 |
| 8. | The Ringer |
| $6,125,000 - Total: $19,727,000 | |
| LW: 7 WR: 2 THTRS: 1853 |
| 8. | The Ringer |
| $8,025,000 - Total: $21,627,000 | |
| LW: 7 WR: 2 THTRS: 1853 |
| 9. | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
| $5,780,000 - Total: $275,228,000 | |
| LW: 9 WR: 7 THTRS: 2316 |
| 9. | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
| $7,460,000 - Total: $276,908,000 | |
| LW: 9 WR: 7 THTRS: 2316 |
| 10. | Munich |
| $4,761,000 - Total: $14,273,000 | |
| LW: 8 WR: 2 THTRS: 532 |
| 10. | Munich |
| $6,126,000 - Total: $15,638,000 | |
| LW: 8 WR: 2 THTRS: 532 |
Theater-goers rang in the New Year at the cinema this weekend, taking advantage of the holiday to catch up on the movies they'd missed over the last few weeks. In an interesting turn out each of the movies in last week's 3-Day weekend top ten remained this weekend and every single one did better this week than last, some nearly twice as well.
Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong remained unshakable from their positions at the top but Narnia has regained its spot at number one, pushing Peter Jackson's remake into the second seat for the first time. The big winner this weekend was romantic comedy Rumor Has It, which opened with a miserable 5 million last week. With the romance of the New Year in the air folks turned out in droves handing the film more than $11 million over the 4-Day weekend and pushing it from the top ten into the top five.
Despite the bumper crop of ticket sales over the holiday, 2005 went out with a fizzle. Box Office receipts for the year totaled approximately $8.8 billion, a noticable decline from 2004's $9.4 billion. $600 million is a harsh drop for an industry that has enjoed nearly 15 years of increased sales. Reports have indicated that DVD sales increased in 2005 which may be an indicator of why the box office languished. Why drop $50 on your family of four at the theater when you can wait a few months and see the same movie at home for less than $20? Increased cost of oil also took a toll on American wallets but it seems movies have just gotten too darned expensive. Theater ticket prices have approximately doubled in the last several years and greedy Hollywood is finally beginning to pay the price for their bloated budgets.
The first movies of the New Year roll out next weekend and among them are wide releases of Munich (1400 theaters) and Casanova (900 theaters). The two will also go up against video game adaptation BloodRayne, horror flick Hostel and disturbing-looking comedy Grandma's Boy. Munich stands the best chance of dethroning the lion and the ape but anything could happen as Amerians set aside the holidays and begin facing the music for their end of year spending.
