Weekend Box Office - Twilight

By Scott Gwin: 2008-11-24 00:52:03

Angsty trend-of-the-year high school vampires sucked at teenage allowances this weekend and made a haul that topped last weekend's Bond-o-rama. Those crazy blood-sucking heart-throbs of Twilight drained away $70 million taking the fourth highest all time November opening.

Who did they fail to top? Try the trend-of-the-decade fictional character. That's right. Harry Potter's three November openings (Goblet of Fire, Sorceror's Stone and Chamber of Secrets) still hold the top November spots.

As predicted, Twilight squashed Bond's equally angsty and only slightly less melodramatic Quantum of Solace. Dropping a massive 60% from last weekend Solace took in $27.4 million, making a hard point that Americans are already happy with one Jason Bourne and the rest of the world (which has turned over nearly $500 million for Solace) can have this new one.

This week's ignored gem was Bolt. The movie that has put Disney's Animation Studios back on the level with sister studio Pixar scored a narrow third place with $27 million. It's a close race against Solace and with any luck Bolt will sneak up into second place when the final numbers roll in.

Budget numbers for Disney's man's-best-friend adventure (which, I must point out, is excellent in 3-D as well) haven't been released but at this rate things look grim for a solid profit. That's a shame too since this is easily the most entertaining and touching animated movie of the year.

Fictional history drama The Boy In The Striped Pajamas expanded to 400 theaters and jumped into the top ten. At ninth place with $1.6 million its poised for an even bigger raise if it can opt for a wider release. It may not be the kind of holiday entertainment that leaves you with a warm feeling inside, but if it's showing in a theater near you it's one not to be missed.