TROPIC THUNDER Roars Twice at the Box Office
Tropic Thunder topped the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with US$16.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Ben Stiller’s critically acclaimed action comedy managed to fend off a bunch of new releases, lifting its domestic total to $65.6 million after a solid two-week run. Starring Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr., the film centers on a group of actors on the run from ruthless criminals.
Following closely in second place was new entry The House Bunny (top photo), which debuted with $15.1 million. The Fred Wolf-directed comedy stars Anna Faris as a Playboy bunny who becomes the housemother of an unpopular sorority after being tossed out of the Playboy mansion.
Opening at No. 3 with $12.2 million was Paul W.S. Anderson’s Death Race, in which Jason Statham plays a prisoner forced to participate in a brutal car race. Based on Paul Bartel’s Death Race 2000, the action flick co-stars Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, and Natalie Martinez.
The third wide release of the week was MGM’s The Longshots, which debuted in eighth place with only $4.3 million. Helmed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, the sports drama stars Ice Cube as a former high-school football star who helps his niece (Keke Palmer) become the quarterback of a local team.
The only new film to open outside the top 10 was 20th Century Fox’s comedy The Rocker, which stars Rainn Wilson as a failed drummer who joins his nephew’s high-school band. Since its release Wednesday, The Rocker has pulled in a disappointing $3.8 million.
Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight slipped to fourth place with a weekend gross of $10.3 million, bringing its total haul to $489.1 million after a highly successful six-week run.
At No. 5, Warner’s animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars collected $5.7 million, reaching a cumulative gross to $24.9 million. Directed by Dave Filoni, the film follows Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they struggle to negotiate a crucial treaty with Jabba the Hutt.
Sony’s Pineapple Express tumbled to No. 6, taking home $5.6 million and lifting its domestic total to $73.9 million. Following closely in seventh place was Fox’s horror remake Mirrors, which reached a total gross of $20 million thanks to this weekend’s earnings of $4.8 million.
Two films rounded out the top 10: Universal’s musical Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep, which reached $124.4 million thanks to weekend earnings of $4.3 million, and Rob Cohen’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which brought its domestic total to $93.8 million after a weekend gross of $4 million.
Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)
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