By Franck Tabouring

Weekend of August 22 – 24, 2008

“Tropic Thunder” topped the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with $16.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Ben Stiller’s critically acclaimed action comedy managed to fend off a bunch of new releases, lifting its domestic total to $65.6 million after a solid two-week run. Starring Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., the film centers on a group of actors on the run from ruthless criminals.

Following closely in second place was new entry “The House Bunny,” which debuted with $15.1 million. The Fred Wolf-directed comedy stars Anna Faris as a Playboy bunny who becomes the housemother of an unpopular sorority after being tossed out of the mansion.

Opening at No. 3 with $12.2 million was Paul W.S. Anderson’s “Death Race,” in which Jason Statham plays a prisoner who’s forced to participate in a brutal car race. The action flick is based on Paul Bartel’s “Death Race 2000” and co-stars Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson and Natalie Martinez.

The third wide release of the week was MGM’s “The Longshots,” which debuted in eighth place with only $4.3 million. Helmed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, the sports drama stars Ice Cube as a former high school football star who helps his niece (Keke Palmer) become the quarterback of a local team.

The only new film to open outside the top 10 was 20th Century Fox’s comedy “The Rocker,” which stars Rainn Wilson as a failed drummer who joins his nephew’s high school band. Since its release Wednesday, “The Rocker” pulled in a disappointing $3.8 million.

Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” slipped to fourth place with a weekend gross of $10.3 million, bringing its total haul to $489.1 million after a successful six-week run.

At No. 5, Warner’s animated “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” collected $5.7 million, reaching a cumulative gross to $24.9 million. Directed by Dave Filoni, the film follows Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they struggle to negotiate a crucial treaty with Jabba the Hutt.

Sony’s “Pineapple Express” tumbled to No. 6 this weekend, taking home $5.6 million and lifting its domestic total to $73.9 million. Following closely in seventh place was Fox’s horror remake “Mirrors,” which reached a total gross of $20 million thanks to this weekend’s earnings of $4.8 million.  

Two films rounded out the top 10: Universal’s musical “Mamma Mia!,” which reached $124.4 million thanks to weekend earnings of $4.3 million, and Rob Cohen’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” which brought its domestic total to $93.8 million after a weekend gross of $4 million.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)