Action-thriller “Bangkok Dangerous,” directed by the Pang
brothers and starring Nicolas Cage, needed just $7.8 million to claim the top
spot at the North American box office in what proved to be the most lethargic
weekend in seven years, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
The total weekend box office revenue was expected to hardly
reach $66 million, which represents the lowest figure since September 21, 2001,
when the total weekend gross was just $59.5 million, according to Media by
Numbers.
In spite of its poor start, “Bangkok Dangerous,” a remake of
a 1999 Thai production that debuted on 2,650 screens, performed within the
studio’s expectations, said Steve Rothenberg, Lionsgate’s vice president of
distribution, cited by The Associated Press.
Following the not-so-dangerous “Bangkok” was Ben Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder,”
the DreamWorks-Paramount film industry parody co-starring Jack Black and Robert
Downey Jr. The comedy brought in $7.5 million and claimed only the second spot,
after ruling the box office for three consecutive weeks. Its total revenue to
date is $96.8 million.
“The House Bunny” came in third, grossing $5.9 million and
raising its cumulative total to $37 million after three weeks.
Christopher Nolan’s Batman sequel, “The Dark Knight,”
starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger, earned $5.7 million,
bringing its total revenue to $512 million, outshined only by “Titanic.”
Furthermore, Overture Films’ espionage drama “Traitor,”
starring Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce, took in $4.7 million, wrapping up this
weekend’s top five films.
Low ticket sales have been blamed on a traditional September
hold back in addition to the economy and the severe weather affecting parts of
the U.S.
in recent weeks.
According to Media by Numbers LLC, the estimated ticket
sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters are:
1. “Bangkok Dangerous,” $7.8 million.
2. “Tropic Thunder,” $7.5 million.
3. “The House Bunny,” $5.9 million.
4. “The Dark Knight,” $5.7 million.
5. “Traitor,” $4.7 million.
6. “Babylon
A.D.,” $4 million.
7. “Death Race,” $3.6 million.
8. “Disaster Movie,” $3.3 million.
9. “Mamma Mia,” $2.7 million.
10. “Pineapple Express,” $2.4 million.
