The Box Office Report returns to normal

Dude here again. I've returned to normal, linear narrative this week. (And no, I did not do that specifically so I could be in a world where Space Chimps tops a list). However, because I've become mildly obsessed with Christopher Nolan in the past few weeks, I've decided this week should be written in the style of Nolan's 2002 film Insomnia. By which I mean this is a reasonably done adaptation of a Norwegian original.

This weekend, yet another contender steps up to the plate to take down the winged one. And once again, there is a failure to do so. But it was close, and it looks like next week, Batman might be de-throned. But that's neither here nor there. Let's go to the numbers, shall we? (All in millions, remember, and these are the studio estimates. The actuals will be available on Monday).

1. The Dark Knight (WB)- $26.0, 4025 screens, week 4, $441.5 total

2. Pineapple Express (Sony) $22.4, 3072 screens, week 1, $40.4 total (wed. open)

3. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Uni) - $16.1, 3778 screens, week 2, $70.6 total

4. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (WB) - $10.7, 2707 screens, week 1, $19.7 total (wed. open)

5. Step Brothers (Sony) - $8.9, 3182 screens, week 3, $80.9 total

6. Mamma Mia! (Uni) - $8.0, 3194 screens, week 4, $104.0 total

7. Journey To The Center of the Earth 3-D (NL) - $4.8, 1970 screens, week 5, $81.7 total

8. Hancock (Sony)- $3.3, 2258 screens, week 6, $221.7 total

9. Swing Vote (BV)- $3.1, 2213 screens, week 2, $12.0 total

10. Wall-E (BV) - $3.0, 2144 screens, week 7, $210.1 total

So those are the numbers, but what do they mean? Seth Rogen and James Franco lit a spliff and did their damnedest, but they were unable to wrest the number one spot from Batman. People like the Batman. It is now the number 3 highest grossing film of all time. Just after Star Wars and Titanic. Pineapple Express, however, opened up on Wednesday and took in $40 million over those five days. Mighty impressive.

More importantly, the most anticipated sequel of the summer, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, opened up on Wednesday as well, and didn't perform nearly as well as it should have. This might be more devastating than Space Chimps fiasco of last month. How can audiences miss the continuing adventures of... those girls and their... pants?

The Mummy suffers a steep stumble in it's second week, and it's possible the OTHER Brendan Fraser movie this year will prove to be the more successful. Or, they're evenly matched. And Mamma Mia crossed $100 million while we were paying attention the bat movie.

(You like how I made not one, but TWO Space Chimps references in one article? I will never let this movie die).

Below the radar, Bottle Shock, a movie about wine, opened up on 48 screens and took in $295,000, while Beer For My Horses, a film I'm presuming is about beer and horses and revenge, took in $226,000 on 98 screens. And Hell Ride, hands down, easily the worst movie I've seen this year, took in $83,500 on 82 screens. That's far too much money for that movie. It's... it's just awful. But it should be awesome. But it's just not.

There you have my amazing break down. Next week, Tropic Thunder rolls in, and an animated Star Wars movie opens up. That's a movie I completely forgot was coming out until just this moment.

Until next weekend....