**Sapphire**
10-22-2007, 02:17 PM
(Thought I would post this since Halloween is right around the corner)
The new vampire thriller "30 Days of Night" sucked the life out of its box office rivals, opening at No. 1 with estimated weekend sales of $16 million, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.
Meanwhile, moviegoers ignored three new high-powered dramas hoping for awards-season recognition.
The crime drama "Gone Baby Gone," marking the directing debut of Ben Affleck," opened at No. 5 with $6.0 million; the CIA suspense drama "Rendition," starring Reese Witherspoon, limped in at No. 9 with $4.2 million; and the domestic tragedy "Things We Lost in the Fire," starring Benicio Del Toro and Halle Berry, barely flickered at No. 15 with $1.6 million.
Box office pundits said an onslaught of R-rated dramas in recent weeks had been too much for moviegoers to digest. Recent entries such as the terrorism thriller "The Kingdom," the period drama "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and the legal saga "Michael Clayton" -- all boasting Oscar-winning talent -- have disappointed to various degrees.
"I think people are looking for froth," said a studio official who did not want to be identified. "How much reality do you want?"
Light fare has ruled the box office in recent weeks. Incumbent champ "Why Did I Get Married?" slipped to No. 2 with $12.1 million. It had ended the two-week reign of "The Game Plan," which is now No. 3 with $8.1 million. Before that, the zombies of "Resident Evil: Extinction" were the top draw.
"30 Days of Night" pitches a horde of zombie-like vampires against a handful of residents in an Alaskan town going without sunshine for a month. Josh Hartnett and Danny Huston star in the $30 million project, which was distributed by Columbia Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp.
Writer/director/actor Tyler Perry's romantic comedy-drama "Why Did I Get Married?" has earned $38.9 million after two weeks. It was released by Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
Walt Disney Co.'s "The Game Plan," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson," has earned $69.2 million after four weekends.
"Gone Baby Gone" was released by Disney's Miramax Films. "Rendition" was released by New Line Cinema, a unit of Time Warner Inc. "Things We Lost in the Fire" was released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, both units of Viacom Inc.
The new vampire thriller "30 Days of Night" sucked the life out of its box office rivals, opening at No. 1 with estimated weekend sales of $16 million, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday.
Meanwhile, moviegoers ignored three new high-powered dramas hoping for awards-season recognition.
The crime drama "Gone Baby Gone," marking the directing debut of Ben Affleck," opened at No. 5 with $6.0 million; the CIA suspense drama "Rendition," starring Reese Witherspoon, limped in at No. 9 with $4.2 million; and the domestic tragedy "Things We Lost in the Fire," starring Benicio Del Toro and Halle Berry, barely flickered at No. 15 with $1.6 million.
Box office pundits said an onslaught of R-rated dramas in recent weeks had been too much for moviegoers to digest. Recent entries such as the terrorism thriller "The Kingdom," the period drama "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and the legal saga "Michael Clayton" -- all boasting Oscar-winning talent -- have disappointed to various degrees.
"I think people are looking for froth," said a studio official who did not want to be identified. "How much reality do you want?"
Light fare has ruled the box office in recent weeks. Incumbent champ "Why Did I Get Married?" slipped to No. 2 with $12.1 million. It had ended the two-week reign of "The Game Plan," which is now No. 3 with $8.1 million. Before that, the zombies of "Resident Evil: Extinction" were the top draw.
"30 Days of Night" pitches a horde of zombie-like vampires against a handful of residents in an Alaskan town going without sunshine for a month. Josh Hartnett and Danny Huston star in the $30 million project, which was distributed by Columbia Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp.
Writer/director/actor Tyler Perry's romantic comedy-drama "Why Did I Get Married?" has earned $38.9 million after two weeks. It was released by Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
Walt Disney Co.'s "The Game Plan," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson," has earned $69.2 million after four weekends.
"Gone Baby Gone" was released by Disney's Miramax Films. "Rendition" was released by New Line Cinema, a unit of Time Warner Inc. "Things We Lost in the Fire" was released by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, both units of Viacom Inc.