LOS ANGELES (March 30) - Movie-goers laid their money down on "21,"
a gambling romp that was the weekend's box-office high roller with
a $23.7 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess as math
geniuses who make a killing at Vegas' blackjack tables, Sony's
"21" bumped off "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!", which had
been No. 1 the previous two weekends.
"Horton Hears a Who," distributed by 20th Century Fox, slipped
to second place with $17.4 million, raising its total to $117.3
million. It is the first movie this year to pass the $100 million
mark.
Despite solid holdover crowds for "Horton," overall business
continued to dip. The top 12 movies took in $90 million, down 23
percent from the same weekend last year, when "Blades of Glory"
was No. 1 with $33 million.
Hollywood started 2008 with a strong uptick in January, but
revenues have trailed off steadily since. Movie admissions had been
up as much as 10 percent in early February but now are 2.6 percent
behind 2007's, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers.
By this time last year, Hollywood already had churned out a
blockbuster with "300," which eventually topped $200 million, and
other hits that included "Wild Hogs" and "Meet the Robinsons."
"Last year was very, very strong at this point. It's made
comparisons very tough," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of
Media By Numbers. "We're not that far into the year, so every down
weekend has a huge impact on the bottom line."
Aug. 4, 2000: Inspired by the New York City bar of the same name, 'Coyote Ugly' opens. Not surprisingly, the film about scantily clad, beautiful women dancing on a bar takes in more than $100 million.
Touchstone Pictures
Aug. 5, 1962: Sex goddess Marilyn Monroe is found dead in her Brentwood, Calif., home, the victim of an apparent suicide.
Matty Zimmerman, AP
Aug. 5, 1964: Adam Yauch, a.k.a. MCA, a.k.a. Nathaniel Hornblower, is born in Brooklyn. At age 17 he will join the hardcore band Reagan Youth, which slowly evolves into one of the great rap acts of all time, the Beastie Boys.
Paul Natkin, Wire Image
Aug. 5, 1964: Screen beauty Anne Bancroft weds comedic genius Mel Brooks. The pair will stay together until her death from cancer in 2005.
Ron Galella, Wire Image
Aug. 6, 1972: Geraldine Estelle Halliwell is born in the small town of Watford, England. After high school, she will bum around Europe, working as a go-go dancer, a TV hostess, a barmaid, an aerobics instructor and a topless model before adopting the alter ego Ginger Spice as a member of the Spice Girls.
Dave Benett, Getty Images
Aug. 7, 2006: Police are called to the home of Paul McCartney when a security guard hears what he thinks is a burglar. The "intruder" is one of Heather Mills McCartney's bodyguards. The former model had sent him over the walls of the estate to let her in when she found that the locks had been changed.
AP / Wire Image
Aug. 7, 1974: J. Geils Band lead singer Peter Wolf marries actress Faye Dunaway in Beverly Hills, Calif., in one of the more random celebrity couplings ever.
Ron Galella, Wire Image
Aug. 7, 1975: Charlize Theron is born in South Africa. After a string of roles in largely forgettable films, she will win an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 'Monster.' Her newfound credibility will land her the lead in 'Aeon Flux.' Oh well ...
Peter Kramer, AP
Aug. 8, 2006: Paris Hilton is rushed to the hospital early in the morning after her pet kinkajou Baby Luv takes a bite of the heirhead. TMZ later reports that the wound is superficial, requiring only a band aid and a tetanus shot.
S Granitz, Wire Image
Aug. 8, 1966: The Beatles' crowning achievement, 'Revolver,' is released in the United States. It quickly goes to the top of the charts, where it will stay for six weeks.
AP
This weekend's other new movies had so-so openings. Debuting at
No. 3 with $9.5 million was the MGM-Weinstein Co. release
"Superhero Movie," a spoof of one of Hollywood's favorite action
genres.
Paramount's "Stop-Loss," starring Ryan Phillippe as an Iraq
War veteran sent back against his wishes for another tour of duty,
opened at No. 8 with $4.5 million.
Former "Friends" co-star David Schwimmer's directing debut,
the comedy "Run, Fat Boy, Run," was a dud, taking in $2.4 million
to finish out of the top 10. Released by Picturehouse, the movie
stars Simon Pegg as an out-of-shape slacker running a marathon to
impress his former fiance, played by Thandie Newton.
The audience for "21" was split almost evenly between men and
women and those older and younger than 25, according to Sony.
"One of the coolest things is it really did play to everyone.
It got male, female, young, old," said Rory Bruer, Sony's head of
distribution.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and
Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures
will be released Monday.
1. "21," $23.7 million.
2. "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!", $17.4 million.
3. "Superhero Movie," $9.5 million.
4. "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns," $7.8 million.
5. "Drillbit Taylor," $5.8 million.
6. "Shutter," $5.3 million.
7. "10,000 B.C.", $4.9 million.
8. "Stop-Loss," $4.5 million.
9. "College Road Trip," $3.5 million.
10. "The Bank Job," $2.8 million.
On the Net:
http://www.mediabynumbers.com/
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