By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of August 29 – 31, 2008

“Tropic Thunder” ruled the North American box office for the third consecutive weekend with $11.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Ben Stiller’s R-rated action comedy easily protected its No. 1 spot from this week’s four new releases, lifting its domestic total to $83.8 million. Released by DreamWorks, the film centers on a group of actors as they fight for survival in a dangerous jungle.

Debuting in second place with only $9.7 million was 20th Century Fox’s science-fiction adventure “Babylon A.D.,” which stars Vin Diesel as a mercenary who escorts a young woman (Mélanie Thierry) from Mongolia to New York City.

Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s summer hit “The Dark Knight” climbed back up to No. 3, earning $8.7 million and reaching a total gross of an impressive $502.4 million after seven weeks in release.

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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.

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