Box Office Charts: w/e 8 August 2008

In the US: "The Dark Knight" retains the top spot, narrowly edging "The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor" into second place (the franchise's worst debut). Christopher Nolan's Batman sequel has taken over $400m in 18 days (beating Shrek 2, that achieved the same in 43 days). Political comedy "Swing Vote" struck out with a poor $6.2m. And spare a thought for The X Files sequel, which drops to #9 in its second week – doing less cumulative business than Space Chimps in its two-weeks of release!

US TOP 10

(1) 1. The Dark Knight $42.7m [review]
(-) 2. The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor $40.5m
(2) 3. Step Brothers $16.5m
(3) 4. Mamma Mia! $12.6m
(5) 5. Journey To The Centre Of The Earth $6.66m
(-) 6. Swing Vote $6.23m
(6) 7. Hancock $5.09m
(7) 8. WALL•E $4.6m
(4) 9. The X Files: I Want To Believe $3.39m
(9) 10. Space Chimps $2.72m


In the UK: Brits stay Bat-crazy for "The Dark Knight" in its second week, keeping it at #1. "Space Chimps" struggles to find a young audience during the summer hols, taking a poor £563k in its first week. "The X Files: I Want To Believe" fails to grab much of an audience beyond fans, in at #4. The tragic US flop of "The Love Guru" is echoed in the UK, as Mike Myers' latest comedy limps in at #8.

UK TOP 10

(1) 1. The Dark Knight £6.7m [review]
(2) 2. Mamma Mia! £3.1m
(3) 3. WALL•E £2.05m
(-) 4. The X Files: I Want To Believe £887k
(4) 5. Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging £716k
(6) 6. Kung Fu Panda £628k
(-) 7. Space Chimps £563k
(-) 8. The Love Guru £498k
(5) 9. Hancock £457k
(7) 10. Journey To The Centre Of The Earth £163k

UK RELEASES THIS WEEK

DEATH DEFYING ACTS
During a tour of Britain in 1926, illusionist Harry Houdini starts a passionate affair with a psychic con-artist. Romantic drama starring Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta Jones, Timothy Spall & Saoirse Ronan.

MAKE IT HAPPEN
A young girl who dreams of becoming a dancer discovers a new style of dance, leading her on a journey of self-discovery. Drama starring a very leggy Mary Elizabeth Winstead (above), Riley Smith, Tessa Thompson & John Reardon.

THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
The first Emperor of Qin, cursed by a wizard centuries ago, is reawakened and causes mayhem in the 1940s. Family action-adventure starring Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh & John Hannah.