HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN - ENCHANTED WINS; BOX OFFICE LOSES

During a weekend when box-office business traditionally sinks, the top earner was the three-week-old Enchanted with just $17 million, according to studio estimates. It has grossed about $70.6 million thus far. The only new movie, Awake, starring Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba, proved to be no sleeper. The Weinstein Co. movie distributed by MGM opened with just $6 million. This Christmas, which cost only $13 million to make, repeated in the second spot with $8.4 million to bring its two-week gross to $37 million, while Beowulf remained in third place with $7.9 million. It has now grossed $69 million (but it reportedly cost $160 million to make). The only good box-office news came from the indie sector, as the Coen Bros.' No Country for Old Men, the best-reviewed movie of the season, expanded into 995 theaters, where it took in $4.5 million. Fox Searchlight's The Savages opened in four theaters, taking in $185,000, while Miramax's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly debuted in three theaters with $75,000. Overall, the box office was down a whopping 8.2 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago, according to Media by Numbers.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers:
1. Enchanted, $17 million; 2. This Christmas, $8.4 million; 3. Beowulf, $7.9 million; 4. Awake, $6 million; 5. Hitman, $5.8 million; 6. Fred Claus, $5.6 million; 7. August Rush, $5.2 million; 8. No Country for Old Men, $4.5 million; 9. Bee Movie, $4.47 million; 10. American Gangster, $4.3 million.

03/12/2007