HOLLYWOOD - The Last Samurai sure didn't come in last this weekend at the box office.The sweeping Japanese epic, starring Tom Cruise, debut at No. 1, taking the top honors with a reasonable $24.4 million*.
Still, the figure wasn't quite what Cruise is used to getting with his opening films. Samurai failed to match the box office king's previous blockbusters including Minority Report, which opened in 2002 with $35.6 million, and Mission: Impossible 2, with a whopping $57.8 million in 2000.
"Considering what we faced on the East Coast, we're very, very pleased," Dan Fellman, president of distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures told Reuters, referring to the bad weather in that area, which dumped more than a foot of snow, closed airports and left thousands without power.
Samurai was followed by another newcomer, the hip-hoppin' Honey, which premiered in second with $14 million, while The Haunted Mansion, which almost took the top spot last week, came in third place with $9.5 million.
The delightful Elf continued to hold its own in the fourth spot with $8.1 million, while last week's No. 1 The Cat in the Hat tumbled to fifth with a measly $7.3 million.
The re-release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the first installment of the J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy, did well this week in a limited run in 126 theaters, earning a total of $431,000. Next week, the second installment The Two Towers will get a similar re-release, as fans gear up for the "Tuesday Trilogy" Dec. 16, with the first two installments playing back-to-back, leading into the opening of the third and final The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at midnight Dec. 17.
THE TOP TEN
Warner Bros.' R-rated The Last Samurai debuting at No. 1 with an ESTIMATED $24.4 million in 2,908 theaters. Its $8,399 per theater average was the highest of any film playing wide this week.
Samurai is an epic about a battle-worn war hero who has lost his soul but finds redemption in an ancient Japanese society he once perceived as the enemy.
Directed by Edward Zwick, it stars Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Tony Goldwyn and Timothy Spall.
Universal Pictures' PG-13-rated toe-tapper Honey opened in second place with an ESTIMATED $14 million in 1,942 theaters ($7,209 per theater).
The film follows a talented dancer as she makes her way in the fast-paced world of hip-hop.
Directed by Bille Woodruff, it stars Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer and Lil' Romeo.
Buena Vista's PG-rated horror comedy The Haunted Mansion dropped to No. 3 in its second week with an ESTIMATED $9.5 million (-61%) at 3,122 theaters (unchanged; $3,043 per theater). The film based on the Disney theme park attraction has accumulated approximately $46.1 million so far.
Directed by David Berenbaum, it stars Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Nathaniel Parker, Marsha Thomason and Jennifer Tilly.
New Line Cinema's PG-rated holiday comedy Elf fell just one spot to fourth in its fifth week with an ESTIMATED $8.1 million (-62%) at 3,119 theaters (-83 theaters; $2,605 per theater). Its cume is approximately $139.6 million.
Directed by Jon Favreau, it stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Zooey Deschanel and Mary Steenburgen.
*Box office estimates provided by Exhibitor Relations, Inc.