Weekend Box Office Report - 4 New films hit

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Monday, July 24, 2006
Source: Box Office Mojo

Four new films hit theaters this weekend, but none came close to taking the top spot from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. PIRATES raked in another $35 million and enjoyed the top spot for the third weekend in a row. It's total now sits at over $320 million as it marches toward $400. Plenty of gold in that treasure chest.

MONSTER HOUSE was able to capture second for the weekend, beating out all other openers with $23 million. The gross is solid for the animated movie, but uninspiring.

Solid is not a word to be used for LADY IN THE WATER's opening weekend gross, in fact, it is safe to say that the lady sunk. Opening to only $18 million, LADY IN THE WATER would be lucky to come close to THE VILLAGE's opening weekend gross during it's entire run in theaters. THE VILLAGE's bad buzz undoubtedly has hurt Shyamalan's following, but equal blame needs to be placed on the marketing department for WB. I had wanted to see the film after first hearing about it, but the marketing made it look awful and thus I stayed away. It seems I was not the only one.

We find the other new releases a bit further down the charts. CLERKS II managed a very solid $9 million for the weekend and a sixth place finish, while MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND has to be a little disappointed with it's $8.7 million gross and the seventh place trophy that came with it. Just to much competition this weekend, and only so much money to go around.

On a happier note, SUPERMAN RETURNS held up well for once, falling only 39% to $7.4 million. I got out to see the film myself this weekend and found it highly enjoyable. It gets my stamp of approval, and I hope Singer returns for a sequel.

Until next week ...

1 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - $35,049,000 ($321,733,000)
2 - Monster House - $23,000,000 ($23,000,000)
3 - Lady in the Water - $18,210,000 ($18,210,000)
4 - You, Me and Dupree - $12,787,000 ($45,318,000)
5 - Little Man - $11,000,000 ($40,611,000)
6 - Clerks II - $9,625,000 ($9,625,000)
7 - My Super Ex-Girlfriend - $8,700,000 ($8,700,000)
8 - Superman Returns - $7,460,000 ($178,427,000)
9 - The Devil Wears Prada - $7,425,000 ($97,571,000)
10 - Cars - $4,910,000 ($229,449,000)