Disney’s latest film beat out the new flim starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Warner Bros.’ Leonardo DiCaprio-Russell Crowe starrer “Body of Lies” and Universal’s “The Express” were sacked at the weekend box office as moviegoers once again resisted Middle Eastern terrorist pics and sports dramas.
Instead, Disney holdover “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” stayed at No. 1 in its second sesh, declining a slim 40% to an estimated $17.5 million from 3,218, while Sony Screen Gems’ horror title “Quarantine” came from behind to place No. 2 in its opening, grossing an estimated $14.2 million from 2,461 runs, according to Rentrak.
Keira Knightley starrer “The Duchess” made a big move to No. 9 as it expanded in its fourth frame.
Ridley Scott’s big-budget “Body of Lies,” about a conflicted CIA agent tracking terrorists in the Middle East, grossed an estimated $13.1 million from 2,710 to come in a disappointing No. 3. Many thought the pic, sold as an actioner, would win the sesh based on its star power alone.
U’s “Express,” about the first African-American college football player to win the Heisman Trophy, grossed an estimated $4.7 million from 2,808, putting it at No. 6.
Fox Walden’s family pic “City of Ember” went into the weekend with low expectations, opening just days after partners Fox and Walden Entertainment announced that Fox Walden would ends its run as a standalone marketing company and be brought into the Fox fold as a label. “Ember,” fully financed by Walden and distributed by Fox, grossed an estimated $3.2 million from 2,002 locations to place No. 10.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” $17.5 million.
2. “Quarantine,” $14.2 million.
3. “Body of Lies,” $13.1 million.
4. “Eagle Eye,” $11 million.
5. “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” $6.5 million.
6. “The Express,” $4.7 million.
7. “Nights in Rodanthe,” $4.6 million.
8. “Appaloosa,” $3.34 million.
9. “The Duchess,” $3.32 million.
10. “City of Ember,” $3.2 million.
[Credit: Variety / Media By Numbers]