HOLLYWOOD - Queen Latifah and Steve Martin's romantic jailbreak comedy Bringing Down the House remained undefeated at the box office for a third week in a row, locking up a hefty $16.2 million* despite the arrival of four new wide releases. Bringing Down the House defended its No. 1 title against this week's most threatening competitor, the supernatural thriller Dreamcatcher. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Dreamcatcher debuted in second place with a down-to-earth $15.3 million.
The 'tween spy pic Agent Cody Banks dropped a notch to third place with $9.3 million, while the new flight attendant comedy View From the Top premiered in fourth place with a turbulent $7.5 million. The actioner The Hunted rounded out the Top Five with $6.5 million.
The new animated feature Piglet's Big Movie failed to see big profits with a tiny $6.1 million take, landing it in seventh place. The week's other new release, the comedy Boat Trip, shipwrecked into tenth place with choppy $3.7 million.
THE TOP TEN
Buena Vista's PG-13 rated comedy Bringing Down the House won the box office crown for the third week in a row with an ESTIMATED $16.2 million at 2,871 theaters (+70 theaters). Its $5,643 per theater average was the highest of this week's top ten grossing films. Its cume is approximately $83.4 million, heading towards the $100 million mark.
Directed by Adam Shankman, it stars Steve Martin and Queen Latifah.
Warner Bros.' R-rated supernatural thriller Dreamcatcher debuted in second place with an ESTIMATED $15.3 million at 2,945 theaters with an impressive $5,197 per theater average.
The film, based on the Stephen King novel, revolves around four childhood friends bonded beyond friendship by telepathy--a power they must use stop an alien invasion.
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, the film stars Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Damian Lewis and Donnie Wahlberg.
MGM's PG-rated Agent Cody Banks fell a notch to No. 3 in its second week with an ESTIMATED $9.3 million at 3,369 theaters (unchanged), with a $2,760 per theater average. Its cume is approximately $26.6 million.
Directed by Harald Zwart, it stars Frankie Muniz, Hilary Duff and Angie Harmon.
Miramax's PG-13 rated airline comedy View From the Top opened in fourth place with an ESTIMATED $7.5 million at 2,508 theaters, with a $3,016 per theater average.
The film focuses on a girl from a Nevada trailer park who sets her sights on becoming a flight attendant.
Directed by Bruno Barreto, the film stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Preston and Christina Applegate.
Paramount Pictures' R-rated actioner The Hunted dropped two places to fifth in its second week with an ESTIMATED $6.5 million at 2,517 (+1 theater), with an $2,606 per theater average. Its cume is approximately $23.4 million.
Directed by William Friedkin, it stars Tommy Lee Jones, Benicio Del Toro and Connie Nielsen.
*Box office estimates provided by Exhibitor Relations, Inc.