Movies News

‘Four Christmases’ takes the top spot from ‘Twilight’

By Patrick Luce Dec 1, 2008, 11:41 GMT

Follows a couple who try and visit the homes of their four divorced parents over the holiday season. ...more

Warner Bros/New Line's comedy "Four Christmases" managed to take a bite out of the teen vampire flick “Twilight” to claim the No. 1 spot at the Thanksgiving weekend box office with an estimated $46.7 million.

Variety reports the Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon comedy opened on Wednesday and exceeded expectations during the holiday. Warner Bros. was reportedly pleased with how the film played during its opening weekend.

"Twilight" pushed past $100 million in its second weekend and claimed the No. 2 spot at the weekend box office with an estimated $39.5 million from the holiday weekend. The film saw a 62% drop during the weekend, but has earned an estimated $119.7 million in its 10 days of release.

Summit prexy of distribution Richie Fay said the company was expecting “Twilight” to have a drop during its second weekend. The film opened strong with $69.6 million.

In Variety, Fay stated: "When you open to the large number that we did, you take your props."

Disney's "Bolt" took the No. 3 spot at the weekend box office with an estimated $36 million during the holiday weekend. The animated family film has earned an estimated $66.8 million in its 10 days of release.

James Bond continued to thrill audiences with his latest adventure to claim the No. 4 spot at the weekend box office. “Quantum of Solace” took in an estimated $28.1 million during the holiday weekend.

20th Century Fox's new epic "Australia" had a rocky start with an estimated $20 million during the holiday weekend. The Baz Luhrmann directed film took the No. 5 spot at the weekend box office, and managed to pick up some steam after a weak debut on Wednesday.

"Australia" reportedly had a production budget of an estimated $130 million (which could be dropped by about $50 million in Australian tax rebates and incentives) and managed to give Luhrmann his best opening gross in North America.

Fox believes the film will manage to match the domestic gross of Luhrmann’s "Moulin Rouge" (which grossed $13.7 million when it opened in wide release and earned $57.4 million during its domestic run).

DreamWorks Animation/Paramount's "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" took the No. 6 spot at the weekend box office with an estimated $19.6 million. The film has earned an estimated $159.1 million since it was released.

Lionsgate's new action flick "Transporter 3" stalled a bit in its opening weekend with an estimated $18.5. The film claimed the No. 7 spot at the weekend box office.
 
Although the film didn’t open to huge numbers, Lionsgate prexy of domestic distribution Steve Rothenberg said it managed to have the box office debut the studio was expecting. The first film in the franchise opened to $9.1 million, and the second had a $16 million debut.

Gus Van Sant’s new film “Milk” took the No. 10 spot at the weekend box office. The film stars Sean Penn and managed to take in $1.4 during the holiday weekend.