Box office report
After hearing everyone howling all week about the country’s dire economic straits, people sought solace with a talking-dog comedy.
Disney’s “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” with Drew Barrymore as the voice of the primary pooch, stayed atop the box office for the second week in a row.
The family-friendly film took in another $17.5 million for a 10-day total of $52.5 million, according to the Associated Press.
Chuck Viane, Disney’s head of distribution, told the AP the movie is a light comedy in a market -and current events scene – heavy on drama.
“This is only word-of-mouth coming back to us from theaters. I don’t have any statistical proof. But they’re telling us we’re getting more unaccompanied-by-children adults coming on their own. They’re looking for a little entertainment,” Viane told the AP. “The axiom we’ve always lived by is funny is money. People come out for comedy. They love to sit back and let someone give them a couple of hours of escapism.”
The horror film “Quarantine” about debuted in the No. 2 slot with $14.2 million.
“It’s probably the perfect kind of movie for today’s climate,” said Rory Bruer, Sony head of distribution. “Let’s just get away from the news, from all that’s going on, and go someplace else, and this is something that’ll take you someplace else.”
Continuing the trend of terrorism/War on Terror movies faring poorly, director Ridley Scott’s “Body of Lies,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, came in third with a $13.1 million opening.
“I think we ran into really difficult timing. The nation suffered such an economic loss this week that the mood of our audience was such that they were probably looking for a little more escapism than to see a movie on terrorism,” Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., told the AP.
The need for escapism didn’t help the weekend’s other new nationwide releases, Universal’s football drama “The Express” and 20th Century Fox’s family fantasy “City of Ember.”
“The Express” – a biopic of first black Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis starring – made $4.7 million for sixth place.
The family adventure “City of Ember” took in $3.2 million to finish at No. 10.
Keira Knightley’s latest period drama, “The Duchess,” curtsied into the top 10 as it expanded nationwide after a successful limited release. The Paramount Vantage release notched $3.32 million to place No. 9.
Two new movies got off to promising starts in limited release: Guy Ritchie’s crime flick “RocknRolla,” starring Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton and Tom Wilkinson, opened with $141,000 in seven theaters.
Director Mike Leigh’s (“Vera Drake”) ”Happy-Go-Lucky” premiered with $80,000 in four theaters.
Here is the top 10, from the AP:
1. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” $17.5 million.
2. “Quarantine,” $14.2 million.
3. “Body of Lies,” $13.1 million.
4. “Eagle Eye,” $11 million.
5. “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” $6.5 million.
6. “The Express,” $4.7 million.
7. “Nights in Rodanthe,” $4.6 million.
8. “Appaloosa,” $3.34 million.
9. “The Duchess,” $3.32 million.
10. “City of Ember,” $3.2 million.
-BAM
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