“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” single-handedly elevated the weekend’s
box office 29 percent compared to the same frame a year ago, raking in a
massive $63.5 million in ticket sales over the Friday to Sunday period.
The animated sequel to 2005’s “Madagascar” earned more than
double the sum managed by the films placing second, “Role Models” and third,
“High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” with $19.3 million and $9.3 million,
respectively, according to estimates by Media By Numbers.
The DreamWorks/Paramount film, featuring the voices of Ben
Stiller as Alex the lion, Chris Rock as Marty the zebra and Jada Pinkett Smith
as Gloria the hippo, was the main attraction at theaters this weekend, bringing
in hordes of children eager to have a hearty laugh along with their favorite
animals. David Schwimmer, Cedric the Entertainer, Sacha Baron Cohen, Bernie Mac
and Alex Baldwin provided their voices for other roles.
“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” fared better than previous
animated releases this summer like “WALL-E,” which opened with $63.1 million
and “Kung Fu Panda,” which opened with $60.2 million. It also performed
significantly better than its predecessor, which premiered to $47.2 million
over Memorial Day weekend in 2005.
The competition earned remarkably less by comparison.
Universal comedy “Role Models,” starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as
two juvenile adults who are forced to mentor children as community service,
opened at No. 2 with $19.3 million, while last weekend’s champion, the third
installment in the Disney “HSM” franchise, slipped to No. 3 with $9.3 million.
“Senior Year” has now earned a total of $75.7 million since its release.
The Clint Eastwood-directed drama “Changeling,” starring
Angelina Jolie as a bereft mother desperately looking for her missing son, came
in fourth for its second week, making $7.3 million for Universal. It was
followed at No. 5 by Kevin Smith’s raunchy comedy “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,”
starring Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen. The Weinstein Co. film made $6.5 million
in its second week.
Another release that could have conceivably attracted more
moviegoers was the Weinstein Co. music comedy “Soul Men,” starring Samuel L.
Jackson and the late Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. It sold a modest $5.6 million
in tickets, failing to make it among the top ten.
The following weekend should be interesting, as “Quantum of
Solace,” the 22nd installment in the James Bond franchise and the second to
have Daniel Craig portray 007, opens Friday nationwide. The Sony film has
already made $160.3 million since opening internationally on Oct. 31.
