Box Office Update 4/6-4/8: Will Ferrell Skates to a Second Victory

I hope all of you had a happy Easter at the movies. Comedy ruled the box office this weekend. Will Ferrell and his figure skating pals in Blades of Glory retained the top spot, slipping a mere 32%. Following right behind it is the latest Disney outing Meet the Robinsons, which also held onto a good chunk of its audience. These two were also the top two last week, for better or worse.

The top two films are proving to be crowd pleasers and are definitely a pair of the right films for a holiday weekend. Both of them offer up light entertainment that does not tax the brain, making for fun for all, and that seemed to be the order for the weekend.

Following the repeating duo are a trio of new releases, led by Ice Cube's Are We Done Yet? I have to think that the $14 million take was something of a disappointment. I am not sure what the studio was expecting, but I thought that it, and its family friendly subject, would easily take the top spot. Well, it still was a fun movie.

Coming in fourth, in a big disappointment for the Weinstein Company, is the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez vanity project Grindhouse. I didn't make it out over the weekend, but will be adding my cash to the pot in short order. I have to question the reasoning to release a film that pays homage to the low budget exploitation films on Easter weekend, and then expect a $25 million dollar open. That doesn't even get into the three-hour plus runtime. But whatever, I still can't wait to see it.

Fifth place belongs to the Biblically themed, Hilary Swank-starring thriller, The Reaping. I don't believe this was the right weekend for horror/thrillers, but at least this has the Biblical connection going for it. Too bad that doesn't make it a good movie. I suspect that this half-baked film will slip down the charts in short order.

Meanwhile, 300 and Wild Hogs continue to do good business, still drawing in the crowds  more than a month out from their respective releases. Wild Hogs is a surprise hit, and the studio has to be very pleased with its $145 million and climbing take. 300, on the other hand, is reaching rarified heights; it has climbed to $193 million so far, and is poised to cross the $200 million mark sometime next weekend, making it only the eighth R-rated film to cross that plateau. That is a remarkable figure for a film that reached its projected entire take in its first weekend.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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