Underworld:Evolution Edges Out Box Office Competition

[comedyfreak]

Golden Globe-winning films saw significant boosts at the weekend box office, but the action-packed vampire flick "Underworld: Evolution" was the top earner, debuting with $27.6 million in ticket sales.

The blood-drenched thriller, starring Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman, edged out last weekend's winning family fare, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

"Hoodwinked," the animated update of the Little Red Riding Hood story, fell to second place with $11 million in ticket sales, while inspirational films "Glory Road" and "Last Holiday" ranked third and fourth, taking in $9.1 million each.

Horror movies and family films "probably have the biggest built-in audience at the box office," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

The animated family friendly film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and the horror flick "Hostel" also retained spots in the weekend top 10.

Last week's Golden Globe Awards provided a big box office bump for its winning films, most notably "Brokeback Mountain," which ranked fifth in weekend ticket sales.

The film, which follows the 20-year forbidden romance between two rugged ranch hands, won four Golden Globes, including best motion picture in the drama category and best director. It earned $7.8 million, an increase of 35 percent over the previous weekend.

"The Golden Globes gave more validation and importance to the film, and the box office shows it," said Jack Foley, president of theatrical distribution for Focus Features. "It's created a whole new level of momentum."

The Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," also gained newfound spunk. The film didn't climb into the top 10, but its weekend earnings jumped 77 percent after Golden Globe wins for stars Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. The film also won the trophy for best motion picture in the musical or comedy category.

"I've never seen a boost of this magnitude," said Chris Aronson of 20th Century Fox. "It has to be Golden Globe-oriented."

"Capote," which earned Golden Globe acting honors for its star Philip Seymour Hoffman, and "Transamerica," which won an acting award for star Felicity Huffman, also saw weekend box office boosts.

"The Golden Globes are now a force to be reckoned with in terms of the box office bump they provide," Dergarabedian said. "We've never really seen a Globes bump like this."

Overall, the top 12 films grossed an estimated $97 million, up nearly 17 percent from last year's $82.9 million.

Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)
This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative
Gross Rlse
Wks # of
Theaters
1 - Underworld: Evolution Screen Gems $27,600,000 $27,600,000 1 3207
2 3 Hoodwinked N/A $11,078,000 $29,304,000 2 3002
3 1 Glory Road Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $9,135,000 $28,075,000 2 2396
4 2 Last Holiday Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures $9,100,000 $26,385,000 2 2514
5 9 Brokeback Mountain N/A $7,832,000 $42,131,000 7 1196
6 6 Fun With Dick and Jane Sony Pictures Releasing $6,100,000 $101,717,000 5 2826
7 4 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $6,067,000 $271,682,000 7 2757
8 - End of the Spear Jungle Films $4,712,000 $4,712,000 1 1163
9 5 Hostel Lions Gate Releasing $4,300,000 $42,728,000 3 2258
10 - The New World N/A $4,250,000 $4,440,000 5 811
11 7 King Kong Universal Pictures Distribution $4,134,000 $209,788,000 6 2205
12 8 Tristan & Isolde Twentieth Century Fox $3,300,000 $11,936,000 2 1845