Top 10 for November 24-26, 2006 Summary: Final numbers are in.
Thanks to some dancing penguins and a scruffier James Bond, the box office was finally able to match last year's comparable frame (despite the absence of a marquis blockbuster like "Harry Potter") as Warner's smash hit Happy Feet sang its way past the $100 million mark over the long Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
For the second straight week audiences chose penguins over brawn as Warner's $100 million budgeted animated comedy Happy Feet held off 007's Casino Royale with an estimated $37.9 million over the weekend and $51.5 million over the 5-day Holiday frame. That brings the children's pic's ten-day take to a monstrous $100.1 million, as word of mouth and child-friendly themes have made it the destination for families over the Thanksgiving break. If then trend continues, look for Happy Feet to finish with upwards of $175-200 million domestically by the end of its theatrical run.
Sony-MGM appears to have a bonafide hit on their hands as well, as Casino Royale fell just 24% (despite the entrance of "Deja Vu") to an estimated $31 million over the three day frame, and $45.1 million over five days to hold onto the second spot. Budgeted at $150 million, the Daniel Craig starrer has grossed $94.2 million in ten days, and seems headed toward atleast $150 million domestically. Internationally the film is #1 across the board, having taken in $130.3 million in two weeks and a whopping $224.5 million worldwide.
At its current pace the film would likely surpass $500 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing Bond film ever. To date the highest grossing Bond film ever is 2002's Die Another Day, which took in $160.9 million domestically and $431.9 million worldwide.
Denzel Washington's thriller Deja Vu led all newcomers in third with an estimated $20.8 million over the weekend and $29 million since Wednesday. Directed by Tony Scott, the $75 million budgeted Buena Vista release averaged a solid $6,704 from 3,108 theaters, becoming Washington's four straight film to open with more than $20 million.
Fox's new holiday comedy Deck the Halls debuted in fourth with an estimated $12 million, averaging a poor $3,744 in a wide 3,205 theaters. Over the five day frame the PG-rated release has grossed $16.8 million.
Rounding out the top five was Borat, which fell 29% to an estimated $10.4 million, pushing its four-week cume to an incredible $109.3 million. Budgeted at just $18 million, the Sacha Baron Cohen mockumentary should finish with $150 million domestically.
In limited release, MGM's acclaimed Bobby took in $4.9 million in 1,667 theaters for a disappointing $2,944 per theater. Warner's The Fountain debuted with just $3.7 million in 1,472 theaters for a $2,530 average. Budgeted at $35 million, the well-received Darron Aronofsky film could have trouble finding traction this holiday season.
Opening out of the top ten was New Line's Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny, which opened with just $3.1 million in 1,919 theaters for a pathetic $1,620 average. Despite solid reviews, the Jack Black-Kyle Gass starrer should see a quick exit out of theaters.
Thanks to an extremely strong sophomore outing from Warner's "Happy Feet," the top ten films grossed an estimated $142.7 million over the weekend, holding even with last year's comparable frame when Goblet of Fire held the top spot with $54.7 million.
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