SEAN PENN - TWILIGHT 'S LAST GLEAMING

TWILIGHT 'S LAST GLEAMING

Twilight' s gleaming didn't last long. The film, which astonishedbox-office analysts by opening with nearly $70 million a week ago, fell tothird place with just $26.4 million over the three-day weekend and $39.5million for the holiday period starting on Wednesday. The big winner was Four Christmases , which also surprised analysts by taking in anestimated $31.7 million for the Friday-Sunday weekend and $46.7 million fromWednesday. In second place was Disney's animated comedy Bolt , with$26.6 million for the three-day weekend and $36 million for the five-.Inlimited release, Milk , starring Sean Penn as San Francisco gayactivist Harvey Milk, opened in 36 theaters, averaged $52,000 in each.( Four Christmases averaged $14,000 per theater.) Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire averaged $36,000 in each of its 49 theaters inits second week. Overall, ticket sales were up 3.7 percent over thecomparable weekend a year ago to $236 million from $227.6 million, accordingto box office trackers Media by Numbers.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled byMedia by Numbers 1. Four Christmases, $31.7 million; 2. Bolt, $26.6 million; 3. Twilight , $26.4 million; 4. Quantumof Solace, $19.5 million; 5. Australia, $14.8 million; 6. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa , $14.5 million; 7. Transporter 3, $12.3 million; 8. Role Models, $5.3 million; 9. The Boy in theStriped Pajamas, $1.7 million; 10. Milk, $1.4 million.

01/12/2008