Box Office Report: 12-3-06

Dude here again, in a quest to report numbers that matter to Hollywood bean counters but have no impact on anything else. Seriously, if a movie succeeds or fails, what impact does it bear on you? Unless you had a bet with someone, but there are more fun things to bet on. For instance, if you're in a cold location (with freezing temperatures) you could put a cup of water outside, and one in the freezer, and hold bets on which will freeze first. It's fun!

This week, we have a few newcomers that made absolutely no impact whatsoever upon release, which could mean a few things. 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. Happy Feet (WB) - $17.0, 3804 screens, week 3, $121.0 total

2. Casino Royale (Sony/MGM) - $15.1, 3386 screens, week 1, $115.86 total

3. Deja Vu (BV) - $11.0, 3108 screens, week 2, $44.09 total

4. The Nativity Story (NL)- $8.0, 3183 screens, week 1, $8.0 total

5. Deck The Halls (Fox) - $6.65, 3205 screens, week 2, $24.991 total

6. Santa Clause 3 (Disney) - $5.0, 2617 screens, week 5, $73.15 total

7. Borat (Fox) - $4.8, 2237 screens, week 5, $116.3 total

8. Turistas (Fox Atomic) - $3.5, 1570 screens, week 1, $3.5 total

9. Stranger Than Fiction (Sony)- $3.4, 1804 screens, week 4, $36.955 total

10. National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The RIse of Taj (MGM) - $2.295, 1979 screens, week 1, $2.295 total

Ok, those are the numbers, but what do they mean? Well, if you're me, it means that the cutting and pasting I do from week to week is less so, as I haven't changed those top 2 spots in 3 weeks. I'm a lazy man, you see.

If you're The Nativity Story, you probably should have had more incessant beatings and blood. Pulling in perhaps 10% of the opening gross for the movie of Jesus' death, the story of his birth failed to attract a large audience. This throws a wrench into the recent mindset that religious themed films can do no wrong. Poor reviews didn't help either. It's possible that the closer it gets to Christmas, the film could keep posting solid numbers, but I don't see that happening.

If you're Turistas. you should feel shame. Ok, that's kind of harsh. Nonetheless, the "torture porn" film (which I'm told was pretty good, from someone I trust) failed to draw the numbers of similarly toned Hostel, Saw 3, and The Texas Chainsaw prequel. Perhaps people are growing tired of excessive gore and torture. I dn't think I'm one of those people, though.

If you're The Rise Of Taj, you should just be happy Kal Penn said yes. Taj follows the recent glut of R-rated comedies that haven't lived up to any expectations, and barely made any coin. (Let's go to Prison, Tenacious D), of which I blame Borat. In fact, they should have a team up, like Alien Vs. Predator. Borat Vs. Taj.There's the movie. Hollywood, I'll take cash, check or groceries.

Below the radar, a motion picture with Morgan Freeman called 10 Items Or Less opened up on 15 screens taking in $40,200 for the weekend.

And in the "just because it's there and because I can" series: Shortbus took in $40,900 on 27 screens, bringing it's grand total to $1,809,000 in 9 weeks

There you have my not so wonderful break down. Next week a whole lot of movies are coming out, one of which will probably attract more viewers than Happy Feet and take over the #1 spot. And that means next week I'll have to do more work on the list. Damn you, Hollywood.

Until next weekend....