Rounding out the Top Ten was Buena Vista/Disney's PG rated family comedy Snow Dogs, down five slots in its sixth week with a less energetic ESTIMATED $6.7 million (-12%) at 2,286 theaters (-168 theaters; $2,930 per theater). Its cume is approximately $68.1 million, heading for $75 million or more. (Its estimated gross for three days was $5.8 million.)
Directed by Brian Levant, it stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Coburn.
OTHER OPENINGS
This weekend saw no other arrivals of key films.
SNEAK PREVIEWS
There were no national sneak previews this weekend.
EXPANSIONS
On the expansion front this weekend Lions Gate Films' R rated drama Monster's Ball, which received two Oscar nominations, widened in its eighth week with a solid ESTIMATED $3.2 million (+29%) at 473 theaters (+131 theaters; $6,850 per theater). Its cume is approximately $8.1 million.
Directed by Marc Foster, it stars Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and Peter Boyle.
Miramax's R rated drama In the Bedroom, which received five Oscar nominations, expanded in its 13th week with a still hopeful ESTIMATED $3.12 million (+70%) at 1,002 theaters (+265 theaters; $3,110 per theater. Its cume is approximately $23.2 million.
Directed by Todd Field, it stars Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Nick Stahl and Marisa Tomei.
USA Films' R rated whodunit Gosford Park, which received seven Oscar nominations, added another theater in its eighth week with an okay ESTIMATED $2.8 million (+40%) at 837 theaters (+1 theater; $3,390 per theater). Its cume is approximately $25.8 million.
Directed by Robert Altman and starring an extensive ensemble cast, it was written by Julian Fellowes and produced by Altman, Bob Balaban and David Levy.
Miramax's R rated romantic comedy Italian For Beginners widened in its fifth week to a still promising ESTIMATED $0.2 million at 22 theaters (+7 theaters; $9,455 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.7 million.
Directed by Lone Scherfig, it stars Anders Berthelsen.
Fine Line's R rated drama Storytelling added a few theaters in its fourth week to an unexciting ESTIMATED $0.16 million at 40 theaters (+2 theaters; $3,915 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.6 million.
Written and directed by Todd Solondz, it stars Selma Blair and Robert Wisdom.