PARAMOUNT PICTURES - CARS' LEAD IS CUT

Cars remained ahead of its competitors over the weekend, but the big gap in its lead shortened as it fell 48 percent at the box office to take in $31.2 million and lift its total domestic box office to $114.5 million. The figure coincided with analysts' predictions. Other results did not. Paramount's Nacho Libra, which had been expected to gross around $15-20 million, debuted in second place with $27.5 million. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which was expected to place second, instead came in at No. 3 with $24.1 million. (The last sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious, premiered with $50.5 million.) Two other newcomers performed weakly. The sci-fi romance flick The Lake House placed fourth with $13.7 million, somewhat better than expected, while Twentieth Century Fox's animated Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties opened with $7.2 million, well below the original's $21.7-million debut.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations:
1. Cars, $31.2 million; 2. Nacho Libra, $27.5 million; 3. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, $24.1 million; 4. The Lake House, $13.7 million; 5. The Break-Up, $9.5 million; 6. Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, $7.2 million; 7. X-Men: The Last Stand, $7.15 million; 8. The Omen, $5.35 million; 9. The Da Vinci Code, $5 million; 10. Over the Hedge, $4.05 million.

19/06/2006