April 21-23, 2006
THTRS = Number of Screens
* Denotes new release.
Click on title to read CB Review
| 1. | Silent Hill * |
| $20,200,000 - Total: $20,200,000 | |
| LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 2926 |
| 2. | Scary Movie 4 |
| $17,034,000 - Total: $67,697,000 | |
| LW: 1 WR: 2 THTRS: 3674 |
| 3. | The Sentinel * |
| $14,650,000 - Total: $14,650,000 | |
| LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 2819 |
| 4. | Ice Age: The Meltdown |
| $12,800,000 - Total: $167,863,000 | |
| LW: 2 WR: 4 THTRS: 3540 |
| 5. | The Wild |
| $8,050,000 - Total: $21,958,000 | |
| LW: 4 WR: 2 THTRS: 2854 |
| 6. | The Benchwarmers |
| $7,300,000 - Total: $47,145,000 | |
| LW: 3 WR: 3 THTRS: 3094 |
| 7. | Take the Lead |
| $4,250,000 - Total: $29,556,000 | |
| LW: 5 WR: 3 THTRS: 2413 |
| 8. | American Dreamz * |
| $3,690,000 - Total: $3,690,000 | |
| LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 1500 |
| 9. | Inside Man |
| $3,668,000 - Total: $81,233,000 | |
| LW: 6 WR: 5 THTRS: 2021 |
| 10. | Friends with Money |
| $3,551,000 - Total: $5,333,000 | |
| LW: 15 WR: 3 THTRS: 991 |
I probably shouldn't be surprised. It seems that where the box office is concerned April Fool's doesn't just last one day but for the entire month. How else do you explain Scary Movie 4 taking $40 million dollars on its first weekend out and something like Silent Hill opening at number 1? With ticket prices being what they are I guess there really is some truth to that saying about a fool and his money.
Silent Hill didn't make a particulary big bang at the box office but walked away with a handsome $20 million. The ironic part about the film's success lies in the fact that the few critics who did give it a positive review acknowledge that it's basically a mindless series of scary images designed to scare you at any cost. It gives the fans of the game a chance to enjoy their fright fetish without the hassle of thumb cramps. Meanwhile the rest of us can do little but cringe that the Uwe Boll style of filmmaing is actually gathering steam.
While Silent Hill took number one, nothing else was able to top Scary Movie 4, which moved down to second place this week with $17 million. Keifer Sutherland's action/thriller The Sentinel, the only other release this weekend that might have overtaken Scary landed sqaurely in the three spot with $14 million.
American Dreamz, which opened on half the number of screens as Hill and Sentinel, made a disappointing appearance in the number eight slot with a measely $3.7 million. Maybe America is bored with Hollywood's mocking of the Bush Administration or perhaps took offense at someone poking fun at their number one television show "American Idol". Whatever the reason, look for the poorly received film to die fast and quiet, dropping well off the top ten next weekend.
The gradual release tactic didn't seem to do much for sharp witted comedy Thank You For Smoking and isn't helping out Friends With Money either. Having been in limited release for two weeks the comedy, which stars Jennifer Aniston and Joan Cusack, expanded to nearly 1000 screens this weekend. It earned a commendable $3,583 dollars per theater (fifth in the top ten per theater) but only claimed tenth place over all. With no plans for further expansion this tiny peak into the top ten is the closest these friends are going to get to seeing the money.
Next weekend issues a barrage of films covering all sorts of genres. Drama United 93, which recounts events of September 11, will go head to head with Robin Williams' comedy RV. Also opening wide is the teen comedy Stick It and teen drama Akeelah and the Bee.
