“The Mummy” Can’t Shake The Invincible “Dark Knight”

By Rebecca Brody
14:18, August 4th 2008
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“The Mummy” Can’t Shake The Invincible “Dark Knight”

Batman is not only invincible in fiction, but also in reality. “The Dark Knight” proved its unshakable nature once again and claimed the first spot of the North American box-office for the third weekend in a row, earning $43.8 million for the three days beginning Friday, distributor Warner Bros. Pictures announced on Sunday. Warding off tough competition from “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, “The Dark Knight” made one more huge step towards becoming the second-biggest movie of all time and surpassing the original “Star Wars,” which is the current No. 2 in overall box office revenue for the United States and Canada, with $461 million. The first place is being held by “Titanic,” with total profits of $601 million.

The Batman movie has ascended to a $394.9 million income in just 17 days, according to studio estimates released on Sunday. The Warner Bros. production is expected to exceed the $400 million mark by Monday or Tuesday, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner, cited by the Associated Press. What’s more, that would happen on the film’s 18th or 19th day of release, another record for “The Dark Knight,” which had an unprecedented high opening weekend of $158.4 million. The previous $400 million record-holder was “Shrek 2,” which reached that mark in 43 days.

The film, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale as the caped crusader and the late Heath Ledger as the malicious Joker, outshines just any definition of what a blockbuster might be. However, much more somber in connotation and significance than “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight” would be irredeemably cumbersome lacking Heath Ledger’s wicked melted clown-face persona.

“The Dark Knight” unquestionably subtracted some business from the “The Mummy” sequel, since both movies challenged for the same action circles, although the critically attacked Brendan Fraser film’s earnings opened a close second spot. The actor entered the top 5 with another movie, besides “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” The Warner Bros. production, a 3-D action film, came in fifth this week with $6.9 million, and earned a total of $73.1 million in four weeks.

The Walt Disney Co. political comedy “Swing Vote” opened only at No. 6 with just $6.3 million and represents another setback for its star, Kevin Costner, who has not had a $100 million movie since “The Bodyguard” in 1992.

“Step Brothers,” starring Will Farrel and John C. Reilly as two middle-aged men who become step brothers when their widowed parents decide to get married, claimed the third place with $16.3 million in its second weekend, followed by the ABBA musical “Mamma Mia!” with $13.1 million .

Will Smith and “Hancock” dropped one spot to seventh place with 5.2 million dollars, while the animated success “Wall-E” was No. 8 with $4.7 million. “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” was disbelieved once again and claimed only the ninth spot with $3.4 million, ahead of the animated comedy “Space Chimps” with 2.8 million dollars.

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” and “Wanted” wrapped up top 12 with $2.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively.



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