In the US, the National Treasure sequel is a surprise smash-hit, taking #1 with a $65m haul... nudging I Am Legend and the Chipmunks down to #2 and #3... Christmas week is cruel to all other new entries, though... Charlie Wilson's War is in at #4... Tim Burton's horror musical Sweeney Todd wasn't cheery enough for the masses, in at #5 with a dismal $13m take... Aliens vs Predator sequel only enticed undiscerning fanboys to cinemas, debuting at #6 after poor reviews... rom-com P.S I Love You flops in at #7... The Golden Compass takes a big drop from #3 to #8, now firmly labelled a Stateside flop (sequels don't look likely)... and, perhaps most undeservingly, comedy biopic Walk Hard opens with a disastrous $6m, holding up the chart at #10. All said, it was a terrible week for studios, with American cinemagoers far more concerned with seasonal preparations than a trip to their local multiplex...
US TOP 10
1. National Treasure: Book Of Secrets $65.4m
2. I Am Legend $47.7m
3. Alvin & The Chipmunks $38.6m
4. Charlie Wilson's War $16m
5. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street $13.6m
6. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem $9.52m
7. P.S I Love You $9.28m
8. The Golden Compass $6.95m
9. Juno $6.82m
10. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story $6.26m
In the UK, things are a bit more festive with fairy tale Enchanted narrowly stealing #1, up from #2 in its second week... British audiences seem more willing to give Golden Compass a fair chance, as it only drops to #2... despite terrible reviews, the awful St. Trinian's update nabs #3... Alvin & The Chipmunks debut at #4... Fred Claus and Bee Movie hang on mid-chart... Trade debuts at a poor #7... Mr Magorium drops from #5 to #8, still doing far better than its dismal US performance... We Own The Night drops 3 places, and should be gone by next week... and rom-com P.S I Love You does just as terrible in the UK as the US, in at #10.
UK TOP 10
1. Enchanted £2.29m
2. The Golden Compass £2.22m
3. St. Trinian's £1.8m
4. Alvin & The Chipmunks £1.4m
5. Bee Movie £958k
6. Fred Claus £674k
7. Trade £369k
8. Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium £320k
9. We Own The Night £241k
10. P.S I Love You £224k
UK RELEASES THIS WEEK
CLOSING THE RING
A man searched for the owner of a ring that belonged to a U.S WWII bomber pilot who crashed just outside Belfast in 1944. Romantic drama directed by Richard Attenborough.
THE KITE RUNNER
After spending years in California, an Afghan boy returns to his homeland to help a friend. Drama directed by Marc Forster.
PARANOID PARK
A teenaged skateboarders life hits the skids when he becomes involved in the accidental death of a security guard. Drama directed by Gus Van Sant.
