EDDIE MURPHY - BIG, FAT BOX OFFICE FOR NORBIT

Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy in three roles, including a fat lady, displayed more heft at the box office than originally estimated, raking in $34.2 million, according to final figures released by Media by Numbers Monday. By the same token, Hannibal Rising took in less than the studio's estimate, winding up with just $13.1 million. Overall, the box office continued to show strain, falling 7 percent below the comparable weekend a year ago.

The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Media by Numbers (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date):
1. Norbit, Paramount, $34,195,434, (New); 2. Hannibal Rising, MGM, $13,051,650, (New); 3. Because I Said So, Universal, $9,221,130, 2 Wks. ($25,805,720); 4. The Messengers, Screen Gems, $7,218,187, 2 Wks. ($24,742,205); 5. Night at the Museum, 20th Century Fox, $5,754,359, 7 Wks. ($232,150,355); 6. Epic Movie, 20th Century Fox, $4,570,090, 3 Wks. ($35,594,259); 7. Smokin' Aces, Universal, $4,113,020, 3 Wks. ($31,174,140); 8. Pan's Labyrinth, Picture House, $3,577,283, 7 Wks. ($26,619,057); 9. Dreamgirls, Paramount, $2,980,967, 8 Wks. ($97,006,872); 10. The Queen, Miramax, $2,373,121, 19 Wks. ($48,897,648).

13/02/2007