“Eagle Eye” leads weekend, “Fireproof” makes a surprising showing

The political/conspiracy thriller “Eagle Eye” did not disappoint, but the other new movies this weekend didn’t do as well as I expected: “Nights in Rodanthe” was 2nd, but about $2 million less than my prediction.

I’m really surprised that “Miracle at St. Anna” was #9 and earned only $3.50 million considering the huge marketing push and Academy Award buzz around the movie… but sometimes war movies just don’t do well at the box office. 

The surprise of the week is “Fireproof”… a small budget/independent movie in limited release this week, starring Kirk Cameron, but it had the 2nd highest per screen average, second only to “Eagle Eye”.

TOP 10 WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (studio estimates):

1. “Eagle Eye” - $29.20 million (1st week)

2. “Nights in Rodanthe” - $13.57 million (1st week)

3. “Lakeview Terrace” - $7.00 million

(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 53% of its audience from last week)

4. “Fireproof” - $6.51 million (1st week)

5. “Burn After Reading” - $6.17 million

(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 44% of its audience from last week)

6. “Igor” - $5.50 million

(2nd week, was #4 last week, lost 29% of its audience from last week)

7. “Righteous Kill” - $3.80 million

(3rd week, was #5 last week, lost 49% of its audience from last week)

8. “My Best Friend’s Girl” - $3.80 million

(2nd week, was #3 last week, lost 54% of its audience from last week)

9. “Miracle at St. Anna” - $3.50 million (1st week)

10. “The Family That Preys” - $3.16 million

(3rd week, was #6 last week, lost 56% of its audience from last week)

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11. “Ghost Town” - $2.95 million

(2nd week, was #8 last week, lost 41% of its audience from last week)

12. “The Women” - $2.65 million

(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 51% of its audience from last week)

13. “The Dark Knight” – $1.66 million (total gross: $524.46 million)
(11th week, was #9 last week, lost 43% of its audience from last week)

CHASING HISTORY:

“The Dark Knight” may end up falling short of closing the gap between itself ($524.46 million) and “Titanic” ($600.78 million) for the highest grossing movie ever in the U.S. !!

Although, there are plans to re-release it in January (for Academy Award push and of course.. more $$$$ !!!

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Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Eagle Eye” poster courtesy DreamWorks SKG

“The Dark Knight” poster courtesy Warner Bros.

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