HOLLYWOOD - Evil takes up residence at the movies this weekend.After a few weeks of lackluster movie fare, the zombie-kicking sequel Resident Evil: Apocalypse shot to the top of the heap, opening with $23.7 million, while the other newcomer, the kidnapping drama Cellular, debuted in second with $10.6 million.
Apocalypse became the third best September opening ever, behind Sweet Home Alabama, which opened in 2002 with $35.6 million and Rush Hour, which opened in 1998 with $33 million. The Resident Evil sequel also beat out its predecessor, which debuted in 2002 with $17.7 million.
This week, the Top 12 films grossed an estimated $64.7 million, down less than 1 percent from last weekend's $64.9 million take and down from this weekend last year by 11.01 percent.
The top three films at the box office this time last year were Sony Pictures R-rated Once Upon a Time in Mexico, which opened in the No. 1 spot with $23.4 million in 3,282 theaters, averaging $7,137 per theater; Warner Bros. PG-13 Matchstick Men, debuted in second with $13 million in 2,711 theaters, averaging $4,827 per theater; and Lions Gate's R-rated Cabin Fever, opened in third with $8.6 million in 2,087 theaters, averaging $4,137 per theater.
BOX OFFICE TOP 10, ESTIMATES: (Source: Exhibitor Relations, Inc.)
No. 1: Resident Evil: Apocalypse (Sony, R)
• Gross: $23.7 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 3,284
• Per-theater average: $7,217
No. 2: Cellular (New Line Cinema, PG-13)
• Gross: $10.6 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 2,749
• Per-theater average: $3,856
No. 3: Without a Paddle (Paramount, PG-13)
• Gross: $4.5 million (-35%)
• Weeks opened: 4
• Theaters: 2,754 (-2)
• Per-theater average: $1,661
• Cume to date: $45.5 million
No. 4: Hero (Miramax, PG-13)
• Gross: $4.4 million (-50%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 2,754
• Per-theater average: $2,175
• Cume to date: $41.6 million
No. 5: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (Buena Vista, G)
• Gross: $2.93 million (-47%)
• Weeks opened: 5
• Theaters: 2,452 (-687)
• Per-theater average: $1,195
• Cume to date: $89.2 million
No. 6: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (Sony Pictures, PG-13)
• Gross: $2.9 million (-55%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 2,544 (-361)
• Per-theater average: $1,140
• Cume to date: $27.6 million
No. 7: Vanity Fair (Focus, PG-13)
• Gross: $2.7 million (-43%)
• Weeks opened: 2
• Theaters: 1,054 (+3)
• Per-theater average: $2.609
• Cume to date: $11.2 million
No. 8: Collateral (DreamWorks, R)
• Gross: $2.7 million (-46%)
• Weeks opened: 6
• Theaters: 2,024 (-324)
• Per-theater average: $1,334
• Cume to date: $92.6 million
No. 9: Napoleon Dynamite (Fox Searchlight, PG)
• Gross: $2.6 million (-6 %)
• Weeks opened: 14
• Theaters: 921 (+35, in expanded release)
• Per-theater average: $2,877
• Cume to date: $30.4 million
No. 10: Paparazzi (Fox, PG-13)
• Gross: $2.6 million (-58%)
• Weeks opened: 2
• Theaters: 2,153 (+38)
• Per-theater average: $1,208
• Cume to date: $11.8 million
OTHER OPENINGS
Criminal (Warner Indie, R)
• Gross: $270,000 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 77
• Per-theater average: $3,506