
This undated photo released by Warner Bros. shows
actors Kurt Russell, left, Josh Lucas, right and Richard Dreyfuss in a scene
from the disaster film 'Poseidon,' a remake of 'The Poseidon Adventure.' (AP
Photo/Warner Bros., Claudette Barius)
LOS ANGELES - It was bottoms up for "Poseidon," as the cruise ship disaster
remake failed to topple "Mission: Impossible III" from a second week atop the
nation's box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.
"Mission:
Impossible III" clung to No. 1 with a $24.5 million take during an anemic North
America box office weekend that saw the Tom Cruise action film drop 49 percent
from its opening weekend.
Internationally, "Mission: Impossible III" raked in another $37.3 million to
bring its two-week earnings overall to $214 million.
"It's not a bad start," said Rob Moore, Paramount's president of worldwide
marketing, distribution and operations.
"Poseidon," which reportedly cost $150 million-plus to make, debuted in
second place with what was described as a solid weekend opening of $20.3
million.
"You've got two PG-13 action movies vying for the top spot and each earned
over $20 million. I think that's pretty strong for Mother's Day weekend," said
Paul Dergarabedian of Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., which tracks box office
performance.
But the overall North America turnstile take was more than 13 percent behind
the comparable 2005 period, the first time in seven weeks that box office
receipts dropped over last year's figures.
"The top 12 films for this weekend are down about 13.5 percent for comparable
weekend last year. Hollywood has been on a roll for seven weeks," Dergarabedian
said, adding the upcoming weekend has two potential blockbusters that could
again float all boats.
"This was a solid but not spectacular weekend leading up to a big week ahead
with `The Da Vinci Code' and `Over the Hedge.' This will be classic
counter-programming," he said.
The Robin Williams comedy "RV" was third with $9.5 million, Lindsay Lohan's
"Just My Luck" debuted in fourth with $5.5 million and "An American Haunting"
was fifth with $3.7 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian
theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations. Final figures will be released
Monday.
1. "Mission: Impossible III," $24.5 million.
2. "Poseidon," $20.3 million.
3. "RV," $9.5 million.
4. "Just My Luck," $5.5 million.
5. "An American Haunting," $3.7 million.
6. "United 93," $3.6 million.
7. "Stick It," $3.2 million.
8. "Ice Age: The Meltdown," $3 million.
9. "Silent Hill," $2.2 million.
10. "Hoot," $2.1 million.