Will Ferrell fires up his engines once again. His newest comedy spoofing NASCAR driving, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby raced to the top of the heap at the North American box office this weekend, opening with $47 million.
“It’s one of those movies–pardon the pun–firing on all cylinders. When you have Will Ferrell and NASCAR, you just know you are going to have a crowd pleaser. But this was way beyond expectations,” Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, told The Associated Press.
Also debuting this week was the CGI-animated Barnyard, which opened in second place with $16 million. The British horror flick The Descent premiered in the fifth spot with $8.8 million, while Robin Williams’ psychological thriller The Night Listener, debuted at No. 9 with $3.6 million.
The box office also had another “up” weekend, which bodes well for the industry. “Hollywood’s on a roll. Last year at this time it was all gloom and doom. Eighteen of the past 20 weekends have been up over last year. This is a terrific summer,” Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., told AP.
The top 12 movies grossed $121.4 million, up 17.64 percent from last year’s draw of $103.2 and up 4.16 percent from last weekend, which took in $116.6 million.
The Top Three films at the box office this time last year were: Warner Bros. The Dukes of Hazzard, which opened at No. 1 with $30.6 million in 3,030 theaters, averaging $10,124 per theater; New Line’s Wedding Crashers, which dropped to second place in its fourth week of release with $16 million in 3,775 theaters, averaging $4,248 per theaters; and Warner Bros.’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which dropped to third place in its fourth week with $10.9 million in 2,905 theaters, averaging $3,776 per theaters (Click here to read last year’s box office report).
BOX OFFICE TOP 10, ESTIMATES
(Source: Exhibitor Relations, Inc.)
No. 1: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Sony, PG-13)
• Gross: $47 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 3,803
• Per-theater average: $12,359
No. 2: Barnyard (Paramount, PG)
• Gross: $16 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 3,311
• Per-theater average: $4,844
No. 3: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Buena Vista, PG-13)
• Gross: $11 million (-47%)
• Weeks opened: 5
• Theaters: 3,436 (-398)
• Per-theater average: $3,205
• Cume to date: $379.7 million
No. 4: Miami Vice (Universal, R)
• Gross: $9.7 million (-62%)
• Weeks opened: 2
• Theaters: 3,026
• Per-theater average: $3,206
• Cume to date: $45.7 million
No. 5: The Descent (Lions Gate, R)
• Gross: $8.8 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 2,095
• Per-theater average: $4,200
No. 6 : John Tucker Must Die (20th Century Fox, PG-13)
• Gross: $6 million (-58%)
• Weeks opened: 2
• Theaters: 2,566 (+6)
• Per-theater average: $2,358
• Cume to date: $28.6 million
No. 7: Monster House (Sony, PG)
• Gross: $6 million (-49%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 3,029 (-524)
• Per-theater average: $1,981
• Cume to date: $56.9 million
No. 8: The Ant Bully (Warner Bros., PG)
• Gross: $3.9 million
• Weeks opened: 2
• Theaters: 3,050 (unchanged)
• Per-theater average: $1,279
No. 9: The Night Listener (Miramax, R)
• Gross: $3.6 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 1,367
• Per-theater average: $2,634
No. 10: You, Me and Dupree (Universal, PG-13)
• Gross: $3.6 million (-49%)
• Weeks opened: 4
• Theaters: 2,266 (-554)
• Per-theater average: $1,589
• Cume to date: $66.8 million
OTHER OPENINGS
Quinceanera (Sony Pictures Classic, R)
• Gross: $96.942
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 8
• Per-theater average: $12,118
