By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of September 19 – 21, 2008

“Lakeview Terrace” topped the North American box office this weekend with $15.6 million in ticket sales, according to Studio estimates Sunday.

Neil LaBute’s thriller won an easy fight against its competition in what was a relatively quite weekend at the movies. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, the film follows a ruthless cop who launches into a turbulent feud with his new neighbors (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington).

Meanwhile, last week’s box office champion “Burn After Reading” dropped to No. 2, earning $11.2 million and reaching a domestic total of $36.4 million after two weeks in release. Helmed by Joel and Ethan Coen, the comedy stars Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand as two gym teachers who try to sell classified CIA documents.

Opening in third place with $8.3 million was Howard Deutch’s latest comedy “My Best Friend’s Girl,” in which Dane Cook takes women on horrible dates to make them appreciate their ex-boyfriends. Jason Biggs and Kate Hudson co-star.

Click to read more ...

By Franck Tabouring
Weekend of September 12 – 14, 2008

Joel and Ethan Coen’s “Burn After Reading” beat Tyler Perry at the North American box office this weekend with $19.4 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt and John Malkovich, the crime comedy delivered the best opening ever for a Coen brothers film, surpassing the $12.6 million earned by “The Ladykillers” in 2004.

Tyler Perry’s “The Family That Preys debuted in second place with $18 million, which is less than the opening weekend grosses of his previous films “Meet the Browns” ($20 million) and “Why Did I Get Married?” ($21.3 million).

Meanwhile, Jon Avnet’s crime drama “Righteous Kill” opened at No. 3 with $16.5 million. Starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, the film follows two veteran NYPD detectives struggling to hunt down a mysterious serial killer.

Click to read more ...