Top 10 for October 20-22, 2006 Summary: Final numbers are in.
Three well-reviewed films paced the box office this weekend, helping push the top ten films up a significant 25% from last year's comparable frame. Leading the charge was period magician drama The Prestige, which debuted with an estimated $14.8 million. Averaging a strong $6,496 in 2,281 theaters, the $40 million budgeted Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, Memento) picture reunited the acclaimed director with his Batman Begins star Christian Bale, in a dueling magician drama that earned a "fresh" 73% recommendation rating from critics polled by Rottentomatoes.com.
Holding onto the second place position was Warner's critically-acclaimed cop thriller remake The Departed, which slipped just 28% to an estimated $13.6 million. In three weeks, the $90 million budgeted Warner release has grossed $77.1 million, and appears on pace to easily surpass $100 million domestically. Internationally, the star-studded film has grossed an additional $25.3 million, with several European countries still awaiting its debut.
Clint Eastwood's WWII film Flags of our Fathers debuted with an estimated $10.2 million for third, averaging a solid $5,437 in 1,876 theaters. Budgeted at a hefty $90 million, the Paramount release may have trouble finding traction outside of its heavily skewed older-weighted audience, particularly given its subdued marketing campaign and lack of overwhelming positive reviews from critics. Teaming up with Oscar-winning writer Paul Haggis, whom Eastwood collaborated with on their $100 million grossing Best Picture winner Million Dollar Baby, Flags is the first of two films Eastwood is making on the Pacific Theatre saga of World War II. Letters from Iwo Jima, set to be released in 2007, retells the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese who fought in it.
Sony's decision to hold off its animal kidpic Open Season until the thinned out fall season has proven to be a great move, as the $85m budgeted computer-animated film grossed an estimated $8 million, falling a top ten best 28% to $69.6 million.
With little direct competition, the film is set to become just the fourth animated film this year to surpass $100 million (Cars, Ice Age 2, Over the Hedge).
Opening in fifth place was Fox's family drama Flicka, which debuted with an estimated $7.7 million in a wide 2,877 theaters, averaging a disappointing $2,676 per theater. Budgeted at a modest $14 million, the film should still manage to find its way to profitability domestically.
Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette took in an estimated $5.3 million from 859 theaters for a strong $6,170 average. Starring Kirsten Dunst, the biopic about the former Queen of France has received mixed-to-poor reviews from critics after sparking some controvery at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Disney's re-release of Tim Burton's acclaimed The Nightmare Before Christmas in IMAX 3-D posted an estimated $3.3 million from just 168 theaters, averaging an incredible $19,536 per theater. Released in 1993, the film grossed $50 million domestically in its original theatrical run.
In limited release Sony's R-rated comedy Running with Scissors grossed an estimated $225,000, averaging a potent $28,125 per theater.
The top ten films grossed an estimated $82 million, up a solid 25% from last year's comparable frame when Doom topped the charts with $15.5 million. It was down 14% from 2004 when The Grudge debuted with a record $39.1 million.
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