Buena Vista/Disney's G rated comedy sequel The Santa Clause 2 slid one peg to second place in its second week with a still happy ESTIMATED $24.8 million (-15%) at 3,352 theaters (+2 theaters; $7,397 per theater). Its cume is approximately $60.1 million, heading for $100 million-plus.
Directed by Michael Lembeck, it stars Tim Allen.
The original Santa Clause in its second weekend (Nov. 18-20, 1994) was third with $17.1 million (-11%) at 2,201 theaters ($7,786 per theater). Its cume after 10 days was $40.6 million. It went on to gross $144.6 million in domestic theaters.
DreamWorks' PG-13 rated horror thriller The Ring dropped one rung to third place in its fourth week, still holding well with an ESTIMATED $16.0 million (-11%) at 2,927 theaters (+119 theaters; $5,490 per theater). Its cume is approximately $86.1 million, heading for $100 million-plus.
Directed by Gore Verbinski, it stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox.
Columbia's opening of its PG-13 rated comedy I Spy fell one notch to fourth place in its second week, holding respectably with an ESTIMATED $9.0 million (-29%) at 3,182 theaters (theater count unchanged; $2,828 per theater). Its cume is approximately $24.7 million.
Directed by Betty Thomas, it stars Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson.
Paramount and MTV Films' R rated comedy Jackass: The Movie was down one slot to fifth place in its third week with a less funny ESTIMATED $7.2 million (-43%) at 2,532 theaters (+2 theaters; $2,844 per theater). Its cume is approximately $53.3 million.
Directed by Jeff Tremaine, it stars Johnny Knoxville.
"It's (going to get to) $60 million-plus now, maybe $65 million," Paramount distribution president Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning. "It could get to $70 million if it hangs around. It has surprised me from Day One."
IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding held on to sixth place in its 30th week, still showing outstanding legs with an ESTIMATED $5.75 million (+2%) at 1,975 theaters (-2 theaters; $2,917 per theater). Its cume is approximately $192.8 million, heading for $215 million in domestic theaters.
Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett.
Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama held on to seventh place in its seventh week with an okay ESTIMATED $3.8 million (-17%) at 2,004 theaters (-437 theaters; $1,912 per theater). Its cume is approximately $118.6 million, heading for $125 million in domestic theaters.
Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon.
Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow's R rated horror film Ghost Ship sank three fathoms to eighth place in its third week with a choppy ESTIMATED $3.16 million (-53%) at 2,361 theaters (-426 theaters; $1,338 per theater). Its cume is approximately $26.2 million, heading for $33-35 million.
Directed by Steve Beck, it stars Julianna Margulies.
Warner Bros.' release of Quinta Communications' R rated thriller Femme Fatale from Franchise Films opened ninth with a calm ESTIMATED $2.83 million at 1,066 theaters ($2,655 per theater). Its cume after five days is approximately $3.5 million.
Directed by Brian De Palma, it stars Antonio Banderas and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos.
"This is a Franchise Films (movie) distributed by us," Warner Bros. Distribution president Dan Fellman said Sunday morning. "The filmmakers are very pleased with the numbers and we're happy to do the service.
"The picture played very well in New York, L.A., San Francisco, Toronto and Chicago. It had trouble in the mid-section of the country. The exit polls in the big cities were good, but not as good in the small cities. It was about 60-40 male-female. It got very good reviews. It will hang on for a few weeks in the U.S. and, hopefully, maintain itself in the big cities for a while. And I think it will be a very good video."
Revolution Studios and Columbia's R rated romantic comedy drama Punch-Drunk Love, which was eighth last week, tied for tenth place in its fifth week with an unexciting ESTIMATED $2.6 million (-39%) at 1,293 theaters (+41 theaters; $2,011 per theater). Its cume is approximately $14.6 million.
Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson.
Miramax's R rated drama Frida, which continued to expand in its third week, tied for tenth place with an encouraging ESTIMATED $2.57 million at 319 theaters (+272 theaters; $8,066 per theater). Its cume is approximately $4.3 million.
Directed by Julie Taymor, it stars Salma Hayek.