The Spartan epic 300 won the North American box office battle again, taking the top spot for the second weekend with $31.2 million. It shot past the $100 million mark after just a week in theaters, bringing its total to $127.5 million.
Meanwhile, the paranormal thriller Premonition starring Sandra Bullock debuted in third place with $18 million. If the numbers hold, this could be Bullock’s highest grosser to date.
The weekend’s two other new wide releases had modest openings. The fright flick Dead Silence debuted in fourth with $7.8 million, while Chris Rock’s romantic dramedy I Think I Love My Wife premiered in fifth place with $5.7 million.
The Top 12 movies grossed $102.4 million over the weekend, up 10.55 percent from last year’s draw of $92.5 million but down 26.25 percent from last weekend’s total of $138.9 million.
The Top Three films at the box office this time last year were: Warner Bros.’ V for Vendetta, which opened at No. 1 with $25.6 million in 3,365 theaters, averaging $7,620 per theater; Paramount’s Failure to Launch, which dropped to second place in its second week with $15.6 million in 3,117 theaters, averaging $5,006 per theater; and Buena Vista’s The Shaggy Dog, which dropped to third place in its second week with $13.3 million in 3,501 theaters, averaging $3,821 per theater (Click here to read last year’s box office report).
BOX OFFICE TOP 10, ESTIMATES:
(Source: Exhibitor Relations, Inc.)
No. 1: 300 (Warner Bros., R)
• Gross: $31.1 million (-56%)
• Weeks opened: 2
• Theaters: 3,270 (+167)
• Per-theater average: $9,537
• Cume to date: $127.4 million
No. 2: Wild Hogs (Buena Vista, PG-13)
• Gross: $18.8 million (-32%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 3,360 (+64)
• Per-theater average: $5,603
• Cume to date: $103.9 million
No. 3: Premonition (Sony, PG-13)
• Gross: $18 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 2,831
• Per-theater average: $6,358
No. 4: Dead Silence (Universal, R)
• Gross: $7.7 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 1,805
• Per-theater average: $4,305
No. 5: I Think I Love My Wife (Fox Searchlight, PG-13)
• Gross: $5.7 million
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 1,776
• Per-theater average: $3,218
No. 6: Bridge to Terabithia (Buena Vista, PG)
• Gross: $5.1 million (-24%)
• Weeks opened: 5
• Theaters: 3,091 (-119)
• Per-theater average: $1,663
• Cume to date: $74.9 million
No. 7: Ghost Rider (Sony, PG-13)
• Gross: $4 million (-40%)
• Weeks opened: 5
• Theaters: 2,824 (-523)
• Per-theater average: $1,416
• Cume to date: $110.2 million
No. 8: Zodiac (Paramount, R)
• Gross: $3 million (-54%)
• Weeks opened: 3
• Theaters: 2,362 (-17)
• Per-theater average: $1,301
• Cume to date: $28.9 million
No. 9: Norbit (Paramount, PG-13)
• Gross: $2.7 million (-36%)
• Weeks opened: 6
• Theaters: 2,016 (-489)br>• Per-theater average: $1,350
• Cume to date: $92.3 million
No. 10: Music and Lyrics (Warner Bros., PG-13)
• Gross: $2.2 million (-41%)
• Weeks opened: 5
• Theaters: 1,850 (-430)
• Per-theater average: $1,189
• Cume to date: $47.3 million
OTHER OPENINGS
The Wind That Shakes the Barley (IFC, PG-13)
• Gross: $130,000
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 14
• Per-theater average: $9,286
Tortilla Heaven (Wildcat Releasing, PG-13)
• Gross: $68,000
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 76
• Per-theater average: $895
Nomad (The Warrior) (Weinstein Co., R)
• Gross: $12,388
• Weeks opened: NEW!
• Theaters: 30
• Per-theater average: $413
