TOP 10: The Doo triumphs over the dead

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Monday, March 29, 2004

It looks like everyone wanted another Scooby snack. Warner Bros. second film about the Mystery Inc. kids, SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED, debuted at the top of the box office this past weekend. The SCOOBY sequel took in an estimated $30.7 million dollars, which is a solid performance for any movie opening at this time of year but about 40% below the first film's opening weekend. Nevertheless, SCOOBY 2 will likely have long legs as children take time off to enjoy spring break and look for something to do.

Last week's champ, DAWN OF THE DEAD, slipped to fourth spot with another $10 M added to its box office. The Coen brothers' THE LADYKILLERS came in at the second spot with $13 M, the best opening for one of their films to date. Meanwhile THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST continues its crusade and added another $12.4 M to its cumulative total.

Kevin Smith's latest, JERSEY GIRL, debuted OK and ducked the GIGLI curse by earning $8 M and change its opening weekend. The week's other new release, the DMX-led crime actioner NEVER DIE ALONE, opened in eleventh spot with a sorry $3 M.

Here are the estimated box office receipts of the top ten films from March 26 through to March 28, with their weekend gross and the movie's total domestic gross to date:

1. SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED $30,745,000 $30,745,000
2. THE LADYKILLERS $13,000,000 $13,000,000
3. THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST $12,461,000 $315,020,000
4. DAWN OF THE DEAD $10,346,000 $43,891,000
5. JERSEY GIRL $8,300,000 $8,300,000
6. TAKING LIVES $6,530,000 $21,690,000
7. STARSKY & HUTCH $6,285,000 $76,895,000
8. HIDALGO $5,433,000 $56,524,000
9. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND $5,423,000 $16,718,000
10. SECRET WINDOW $5,400,000 $40,656,000


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