Top 10 for December 8-10, 2006 Summary: Final numbers are in.
Unveiling his latest directorial effort since 2004's controversial religious blockbuster The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson saw his Apocalypto climb to the top in its opening weekend, earning an estimated $14.2 million in what was an overall very sluggish weekend for the industry. Shrugging off a scandal-laden stint with the media this summer, Gibson knocked off the one-two punch of Happy Feet and Casino Royale (which had held the top two spots for three straight weekends), with the foreign-language Apocalypto averaging a top ten best $5,746 in 2,465 theaters. Budgeted at a modest $40 million, the ultra-violent Mayan-themed adventure-thriller received solid reviews from critics (65% "fresh" rating on Rottentomatoes.com), and with an encouraging 16% increase in ticket sales from Friday to Saturday, the film could continue to play strong in the coming weeks for Buena Vista.
Sony's timely $85 million budgeted romantic comedy The Holiday opened with an estimated $13.5 million to finish a close second, averaging a strong $5,172 in 2,610 theaters. Starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, the debut surpassed Diaz's last film In Her Shoes, which opened to just $10 million last October. Romance pics usually perform well in the holiday season, so look for The Holiday to have a steady run for the remainder of the year.
Despite losing the top spot it has held for three straight weeks, Warner's blockbuster animated pic Happy Feet slipped just 28% to third, earning an estimated $12.7 million and bringing its four week cume to $137.7 million. With its tremendous word of mouth and the Christmas weekend still ahead, look for Happy Feet to flirt with $200 million domestically. The film has just started launching internationally, and has grossed $40.8 million thus far.
Slipping to fourth was Sony-MGM's hit Casino Royale, which grossed an estimated $8.8 million this weekend pushing its domestic cume to $128.9 million. As good as that total is, it pales in comparison to its performance overseas, as the Daniel Craig starrer brought its international total to an amazing $247.2 million. That gives Royale a global take of $376.1 million, and it should cross $400 million by the end of the year.
Receiving mixed reviews this weekend was Leonardo DiCaprio's thriller Blood Diamond, which debuted in a disappointing fifth place with an estimated $8.5 million from 1,910 theaters, averaging $4,458 per theater. Directed by Ed Zwick, the R-rated South African saga couldn't overcome a lackluster reception from critics, something films opening in a smaller number of theaters desperately need to gain traction in a busy marketplace.
Warner Bros.' other family film offering, the comedy Unaccompanied Minors, grossed just $6.2 million in 2,775 theaters, averaging a very weak $2,234. Out of the top ten was Fox's surprise hit comedy Borat, which fell 46% to an estimated $2.6 million, pushing its cume to an incredible $120.3 million.
Overall, the top ten films grossed an estimated $82.8 million, down a sizeable 27% from last year's comparable frame when The
Chronicles of Narnia debuted on top with $65.6 million.
Report by
Join us in the box office messageboard to talk about
the weekend or how next week's slate will fare.
