PRINCE CASPIAN Overthrows IRON MAN
May 18th, 2008 by Franck Tabouring
The reign of Iron Man is over.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (above) stormed to the top of the North American box office this weekend with US$56.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Yet, Walt Disney’s much anticipated action adventure based on C.S. Lewis‘ fantasy novel fell short of the $65.5 million opening weekend of 2005’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Prince Caspian follows the Pevensie siblings on their quest to bring down a ruthless king who plans to eradicate the Narnians.
Last week’s box office champ, Iron Man, slipped to No. 2 with $31.2 million, reaching a domestic total of $222 million after only three weeks in release. Paramount’s comic-book adaptation directed by Jon Favreau stars Robert Downey Jr. as weapons manufacturer Tony Stark, who turns into a superhero after building an armor-plated suit.
Following at No. 3 with $13.8 million was the romantic comedy What Happens in Vegas, which lifted its cumulative gross to $40.3 million after an impressive two-week run. Released by 20th Century-Fox and directed by Tom Vaughan, the film stars Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz as two strangers who are forced to live together for six months after accidentally getting married in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Speed Racer ranked in fourth this weekend, earning $7.6 million and bringing its total haul to a mere $24.3 million after two weeks in release. The Andy and Larry Wachowski-directed box office flop stars Emile Hirsch as Speed, an ambitious racer who vows to bring down the ruthless moguls who manipulate races and bribe drivers.
Universal’s comedy Baby Mama scored $4.5 million at No. 5, reaching a domestic total of $47.2 million. Sony’s romantic comedy Made of Honor, starring Patrick Dempsey, followed closely in sixth place, bringing its cumulative gross to $33.7 million. Dropping to No. 8, New Line Cinema’s comedy Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay collected $1.8 million from ticket sales at 1,403 locations. After four weeks in release, the comedy grossed $33.9 million, which is almost double the final domestic gross of its predecessor Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.
Two films rounded out the top 10: Lionsgate’s action adventure The Forbidden Kingdom in ninth place with a weekend gross of $1 million, and Thomas McCarthy’s drama The Visitor with $687,000 at No. 10.
Source: Box Office Mojo (boxofficemojo.com)
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