Big Momma’s House 2 crushed the competition at the North American box office this weekend with a plump $28 million take–the second-best January opening ever.
The Martin Lawrence sequel ranks second behind a special edition of Star Wars, which grossed $35.9 million when it premiered in 1997.
“Audiences are obviously in the mood for some lighthearted films,” Exhibitor Relations President Paul Dergarabedian told The Associated Press Sunday.
Fellow newcomer Nanny McPhee, meanwhile, took the No. 2 spot with $14.1 million. But the naval drama Annapolis failed to overcome last week’s champ, Underworld Evolution. The James Franco and Tyrese Gibson starrer came in fourth place with a lackluster $7.7 million.
The Top 12 films grossed an estimated total of $99.3 million, up 5.16 percent from last weekend’s total of $94.5 million, but down nearly 5 percent from last year’s draw of $104.4 million.
The Top Three films at the box office this time last year were: Fox’s R-rated thriller Hide and Seek, which premiered at No. 1 with $21.9 million in 3,005 theaters, averaging $7,308 per theaters, Sony Pictures’ PG-rated Are We There Yet?, which dropped to second place in its second week of release with $16.3 million in 2,710 theaters, averaging $6,032 per theater; and Warner Bros.’ PG-13 pugilist drama Million Dollar Baby, which came in third position with $12.2 million in 2,010 theaters, averaging $6,102 per theater. (Click here to read last year’s box office report)
BOX OFFICE TOP 10, ESTIMATES
(Source: Exhibitor Relations, Inc.)
No. 1: Big Mommas House 2 (Fox, PG-13)
• Gross: $27 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 3,261
• Per-theater average: $8,586
No. 2: Nanny McPhee (Universal, PG)
• Gross: $14.1 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 1,995
• Per-theater average: $7,068
No. 3: Underworld: Evolution (Sony, R)
• Gross: $11.1 million (-59%)
• Weeks opened: 2
• Theaters: 3,207 (unchanged)
• Per-theater average: $3,461
• Cume to date: $44.3 million
No. 4: Annapolis (Buena Vista, PG-13)
• Gross: $7.7 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 1,605
• Per-theater average: $4,802
No. 5: Hoodwinked (Weinstein Co., PG)
• Gross: $7.3 million (-29%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 3,020 (+18)
• Per-theater average: $2,445
• Cume to date: $37.6 million
No. 6: Brokeback Mountain (Focus Features, R)
• Gross: $7.8 million (+19%)
• Weeks opened: 8
• Theaters: 1,654 (+458)
• Per-theater average: $3,842
• Cume to date: $50.8 million
No. 7: Glory Road (Buena Vista, PG)
• Gross: $5.1 million (-41%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 2,397 (+1)
• Per-theater average: $2,154
• Cume to date: $34.7 million
No. 8: Last Holiday (Paramount Pictures, PG-13)
• Gross: $4.8 million (-45%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 2,442 (-72)
• Per-theater average: $1,966
• Cume to date: $32.6 million
No. 9: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Buena Vista, PG)
• Gross: $4.4 million (-29%)
• Weeks opened: 8
• Theaters: 2,170 (-587)
• Per-theater average: $2,033
• Cume to date: $277.7 million
No. 10: The Matador (Weinstein Co., R)
• Gross: $3.8 million (+838%)
• Weeks opened: 4
• Theaters: 885 (+819)
• Per-theater average: $4,342
• Cume to date: $5.5 million
OTHER OPENINGS
Roving Mars—Large Format (Buena Vista, G)
• Gross: $397,000
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 27
• Per-theater average: $14,704
Imagine Me and You (Fox Searchlight, R)
• Gross: $52,830
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 8
• Per-theater average: $6,604
