NO DOUBT - BOX OFFICE BECOMES ICE CASTLE

BOX OFFICE BECOMES ICE CASTLE

No doubt giving ice skating its biggest revival since Sonja Henie, Blades of Glory skated by its competition to earn an estimated $33 million at the box office over the weekend. The film, starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder, turned in a better-than-expected performance despite competing against March Madness semifinals and a slew of recently released movies targeting the same audience demographic. Opening in second place was Disney's animated Meet the Robinsons, which screened in 3D in 600 theaters, the biggest 3D rollout since the 1950s. The film opened with about $25.1 million. The fantasy/ancient history drama 300 fell to third place with $11.2 million, bringing its gross to $179.6 million, while TMNT, the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sequel, dropped to fourth place (from first last week) with $9.16 million. Rounding out the top five was Wild Hogs, the biker comedy with John Travolta and Tim Allen, which rode off with another $8.39 million to bring its total to $135.4 million. Overall, the box office was down 13 percent from the comparable weekend a year ago, when Ice Age: The Meltdown opened with $68 million. Nevertheless Media by Numbers chief Paul Dergarabedian told the Associated Press: "This is still a good weekend, a pretty healthy one-two punch with Blades of Glory and Meet the Robinsons at the top."

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Media by Numbers:
1. Blades of Glory, $33 million; 2. Meet the Robinsons, $25.1 million; 3. 300, $11.2 million; 4. TMNT, $9.2 million; 5. Wild Hogs, $8.4 million; 6. Shooter, $8 million; 7. Premonition, $5.1 million; 8. The Last Mimzy, $4 million; 9. The Hills Have Eyes 2, $3.9 million; 10. Reign Over Me, $3.7 million.

02/04/2007