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Monday, April 14, 2008

'Prom Night' scares up $22.7m for No. 1, April 11-13, 2008

Prom Night and Street Kings headlined yet another underwhelming weekend as the top ten films finished below last year's comparable frame for the eighth time in nine weeks, adding more pressure for studios pinning their hopes on a big summer rescue.

Taking the crown this weekend was Sony Screen Gem's Prom Night, which took in a surprisingly strong $22.7 million, nearly doubling its closest competitor. A remake of the 1980 Jamie Lee Curtis horror flick, the PG-13 release averaged a top ten best $8,407 in 2,700 theaters. The debut was below another Jamie Lee Curtis horror remake Halloween, which debuted with $26.4 million in 2007. It finished on par with 2005's The Amityville Horror, which took in $23.5 million in 2005. Budgeted at a modest $20 million the film should be a very profitable one for Sony.

Keanu Reeves' thriller Street Kings limped into second with just $12 million, averaged $4,864 in 2,467 theaters. Starring Reeves and Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, the R-rated actioner was poorly reviewed by critics. Look for the Fox Searchlight release to have a very quick stint in the top ten.

Two-week champ 21 fell just 28% to third with an estimated $11 million, bringing its 17 day take to an impressive $62.3 million. At its current pace look for the $35 million budgeted Sony release to finish with a formidable $90 million domestically.

Fox's family film Nim's Island slipped just 32% to fourth, bringing its ten-day take to $25.3 million. George Clooney's Leatherheads witnessed a much bumpier sophomore frame, falling 51% to an estimated $6.2 million, bringing its ten-day total to $21.9 million. Look for the $58 million budgeted period football comedy to finish with less than $40 million domestically.

2008's highest grossing film Horton Hears a Who slipped just 34% to an estimated $6 million, bringing its five week cume to $139.6 million. Look for the $85 million budgeted release to finish with $155-160 million domestically.

Miramax's Sarah Jessica Parker-Dennis Quaid dramedy Smart People took in an estimated $4.2 million in 1,106 theaters, averaging a weak $3,797 per theater. Reviews were mixed-to-poor for the R-rated pic.

Despite Prom Night's larger than expected debut, the top ten films grossed an estimated $79.5 million, down 13% from last year's comparable frame when Disturbia opened with $22.2 million. It was down an even heftier 26% from 2006 when Scary Movie 4 topped with $40.2 million.

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