Top 10 for April 28-30, 2006 Summary: Final numbers are in.
Despite being the most talked about film opening this weekend, Universal's controversial United 93 played second fiddle to Sony's family comedy RV, as the widest launched film this weekend took in $16.4 million to lead all newcomers. Averaging and unimpressive $4,511 in an ultrawide 3,639 theaters, the Robin Williams starrer was panned by critics (just 22% recommendation rating from Rottentomatoes.com), but marked his best debut in a non-animated film since 2002's remake Insomnia ($20.9m opening). For director Barry Sonnenfeld, RV marked the first film that he's directed since Men in Black II, which debuted with $52.1 million back in July of 2002. With word of mouth expected to be poor, look for heavy declines in the coming weeks.
Universal's well-received United 93 debuted with the strongest per theater average in the top ten, opening on just 1,795 theaters for a $6,395 average, finishing the weekend with $11.48 million. With the debate largely focused on whether Americans are ready for 9/11-themed films hitting theaters, it seems now that audiences are ready for them, but also not particularly excited about seeing them in theaters. Despite universally positive reviews from critics (93% recommendation rating on Rottentomatoes.com), as well as a very sensitive marketing campaign from Universal, the $15 million budgeted Paul Greengrass film never really captured the interest from audiences five years removed from the tragic events of that day. The film had overwhelmingly strong exit polling throughout the weekend, which should equate to strong word of mouth. That along with a modest budget should help make United 93 a financial success as well as tasteful tribute to the countless heroes who lost their lives that fateful day.
Opening in a close third with a solid $10.8 million was Buena Vista's gymnastics teen comedy Stick It, which took in a strong $5,301 in 2,038 theaters. Following in the footsteps of the sleeper hit cheerleader comedy Bring It On, Stick It got a colder reception from critics. It also debuted $6 million lower than the $17.3 million opening of 2000's Bring It On, which finished with a domestic total of $68.3 million. Unless word of mouth is surprisingly strong, expect Stick It to finish with less than $50 million domestically.
The weekend's last debut, the new spelling bee drama Akeelah and the Bee, debuted in a disappointing eighth place with an estimated $6.3 million, averaging just $2,847 in 2,195 theaters. The Lionsgate release, which marks the first film co-produced and marketed by Starbucks, failed to have the carryover appeal the coffee house-turned-cultural phenomenon was hoping for.
Last week's champ Silent Hill tumbled 54% to an estimated $9.3 million, pushing its ten day take to $34.2 million.
Budgeted at $50 million, the Sony release should finish with close to $50 million by the end of its domestic run.
Fox's thriller The Sentinel fell 47% in its second weekend with an estimated $7.6 million, pushing its ten day total to $25.5 million.
Fox/Blue Sky Studios' Ice Age: The Meltdown took in $7.2 million this weekend, pushing its domestic cume to a mammoth $177.7 million. In just five weeks the $80 million budgeted computer-animated production has now surpassed $176.4 million of its 2002 surprise-hit predecessor Ice Age. Internationally the film continues to be a giant, finishing as the No. 1 film for the fifth weekend in a row with $25.3 million. Its international tally is now $373.6 million, bringing its worldwide take to a fantastic $551.3 million.
2006 continues to be a great start for the studios, as the top ten films grossed an estimated $86.4 million, up 11% from last year's comparable frame when The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was tops with a $21.1 million debut. Next week Mission: Impossible 3 arrives in theaters to help jumpstart what should be a very big summer box office.
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