CHICAGO - SUPER BOWL THROWS THEATERS FOR A LOSS

The box office had much in common with the Chicago Bears over the weekend as both suffered brutal losses. While much of the country prepared for Super Bowl parties on Friday and Saturday and stayed home to watch the game on Sunday, movie theaters remained nearly empty, even by past Super Bowl weekend comparisons. The No. 1 film was the horror flick Messengers, which took in an estimated $14.5 million, down 31 percent from the $21 million raked in by last year's When a Stranger Calls during the comparable weekend. The Diane Keaton starrer Because I Said So came in second with $13 million. Last week's top film, Epic Movie, slid to third place with $8.2 million.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers:
1. The Messengers, $14.5 million; 2. Because I Said So, $13 million; 3. Epic Movie, $8.2 million; 4. Night at the Museum, $6.75 million; 5. Smokin' Aces, $6.3 million; 6. Stomp the Yard, $4.2 million; 7. Dreamgirls, $4 million; 8. Pan's Labyrinth, $3.7 million; 9. The Pursuit of Happyness, $3.1 million; 10. The Queen, $2.7 million.

05/02/2007