By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of October 17 – 19, 2008

“Max Payne” topped the North American box office this weekend with $18 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Directed by John Moore, the PG-13 rated film based on the popular video game easily dominated its competition by gaining an early lead Friday. Starring Mark Wahlberg, the film follows a grieving detective who has made it his mission to avenge those responsible for his family’s murders.

Still going strong at No. 2 was last week’s box office champion “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” which collected $11.2 million to bring its domestic total to $69 million after three weeks in theaters. Walt Disney’s family adventure directed by Raja Gosnell centers on a spoiled dog ending up astray in the middle of Mexico.

Debuting in third place with $11 million this weekend was Gina Prince-Bythewood’s adaptation of “The Secret Life of Bees,” the dramatic story of a young girl finding new hope and love inside the house of an African-American family of beekeepers. Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys star.

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By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of October 10 – 12

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua” clung to the top spot at the North American box office this weekend with $17.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Walt Disney’s family adventure outran its competition by gaining momentum Saturday, lifting its domestic total to $52.5 million after two weeks in release. Directed by Raja Gosnell, the story centers on a spoiled chihuahua ending up astray in Mexico.

Debuting in second place with $14.2 million was Screen Gems’ horror remake “Quarantine,” which follows a group of people struggling to survive a night in a quarantined building.  

Following closely at No. 3 was Ridley Scott’s thriller “Body of Lies,” which collected $13.1 million at 2,710 locations. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, the film follows two CIA agents on their quest to hunt down an international terrorist.

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By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of October 3 – 5, 2008

Walt Disney Pictures’ family adventure “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” took an easy lead at the North American box office this weekend with $29 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Raja Gosnell’s film about a spoiled chihuahua ending up astray in Mexico had no problems taking over the No. 1 spot from last week’s box office winner “Eagle Eye,” which finished strong in second place.

D.J. Caruso’s action thriller starring Shia LaBeouf took home another $17.7 million, reaching a domestic total of $54.6 million after only two weeks in release. Released by DreamWorks, the film follows a slacker and a single mom who are framed as terrorists and forced to participate in a political assassination.

Debuting in third place with $12 million was Peter Sollett’s “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” which stars Michael Cera and Kat Dennings as two young adults who spend an incredibly chaotic night together in New York City.

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Friday marked a great start at the box office for Raja Gosnell’s family flick “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” which took the No. 1 spot with $7.8 million in ticket sales.

Last week’s champ “Eagle Eye” slipped to second place but still went strong, pulling in $5.5 million. D.J Caruso’s Shia LaBeouf action vehicle reached a domestic total of $42.4 million.

Debuting in third place with $4.4 million was Peter Sollett’s “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” a romance in which Michael Cera and Kat Dennings spend a turbulent night together in New York City.

Ed Harris’ western “Appaloosa” expanded over the weekend, climbing all the way to No. 5 with $1.5 million. The film made slightly less than George C. Wolfe’s “Nights in Rodanthe,” which tool home $2.4 million in fourth place.

Four the other three wide releases, it didn’t look that well Friday. “Blindness” ranked 11th with $750,000, while “Flash of Genius” only collected $720,000 at No. 12. The biggest disappointment was Simon Pegg’s new comedy “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People,” which picked up $460,000.

Even Bill Maher’s “Religulous” performed better at only 502 locations, earning $1.1 million in tenth place.

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

D.J. Caruso’s “Eagle Eye” faces a tough competition at the box office this weekend, but for the past couple of days, the action thriller had no trouble defending the top spot, earning an extra $1.7 million Wednesday.

Starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan, the film managed to lift its domestic gross to $35.3 million after one week in release. Following at No. 2 with $1.1 million was George C. Wolfe’s romance drama “Nights in Rodanthe,” which brought its total gross to $16.7 million.

Finishing in third place was Joel and Ethan Coen’s “Burn After Reading,” which jumped back up one spot with a Wednesday gross of $514,309. Its current cumulative gross stands at $47.1 million.

Slipping to No. 4 was Neil LaBute’s thriller “Lakeview Terrace,” which reached a total haul of $27.2 million after picking up $476,159.

At No. 5, Alex Kendrick’s Christian-themed marriage drama “Fireproof” took home $353,066 to lift its domestic total to $8 million after a strong one-week run.

With six wide releases opening Friday, it will get pretty crowded at the North American box office this weekend.  

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

D.J. Caruso’s action hit “Eagle Eye” clung to the top of the box Monday with a strong $2 million in ticket sales, according to estimates released by BoxOfficeMojo.

The thriller starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan lifted its domestic total to $31.2 million. Following at No. 2 was George C. Wolfe’s  romance drama “Nights in Rodanthe,” which took home $979,550 and reached a total of $14.3 million.

Meanwhile, Neil LaBute’s Samuel L. Jackson vehicle “Lakeview Terrace” earned $488,979 in third place, bringing its cumulative gross to $26.1 million.

Finishing fourth Monday was Joel and Ethan Coen’s comedy “Burn After Reading,” which rose to a total gross of $46 million after pulling $471,328.

Following in fifth place was Alex Kendrick’s Christian-themed drama “Fireproof,” which reached a total of $7.2 million after Monday’s earnings of $410,000.

By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of September 26 – 28, 2008

D.J. Caruso’s action blockbuster “Eagle Eye” stormed to the top of the North American box office this weekend with $29.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

DreamWorks’ Shia LaBeouf vehicle easily knocked out its competition after opening in 3,510 theaters and securing the top spot early on Friday. Co-starring Michelle Monaghan, the flick centers on a slacker and a single mother who are framed as terrorists and forced to participate in a major political assassination.

Debuting in second place with $13.5 million was George C. Wolfe’s romance drama “Nights in Rodanthe.” Based on the acclaimed novel by Nicholas Sparks and starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, the movie follows two single parents who fall in love during a stormy weekend at an old beachside inn.  

Last weekend’s box office winner “Lakeview Terrace” dropped to No. 3, earning $7 million and lifting its cumulative gross to $25.7 million after two weeks in release. Directed by Neil LaBute, Sony’s thriller follows a racist cop (Samuel L. Jackson) who tries everything in his power to get his new neighbors to move out again.

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