‘XXX’ Rules; Murphy Comedy Staggers

Weekend Box Office

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The high-octane action film “XXX” remained the top-drawing movie for a second week, grossing $22.1 million, although it saw its box office plunge 50% from opening week.

*--* Movie Three-day Screens/ Average Weeks in release (Studio) gross/ Total (millions) 1 “XXX” $22.1 3,388 2 (Sony/Columb $84.0 $6,526 ia) 2 “Signs” $19.4 3,344 3 (Disney/Touc $150.5 $5,790 hstone) 3 “Blue Crush” $14.2 3,002 1 (Universal) $14.2 $4,720 4 “Spy Kids 2” $11.5 3,307 2 (Dimension) $45.6 $3,484 5 “Austin Powers $8.7 3,113 4 in Goldmember” (New Line) $183.9 2,804 6 “My Big Fat $5.7 1,060 18 Greek Wedding” (IFC) $52.8 $5,377 7 “Bloodwork” $4.8 2,525 2 (Warner $15.3 $1,904 Bros.) 8 “Road to $3.8 1,914 6 Perdition” (DreamWorks) $90.3 $1,985 9 “The Master of $3.2 2,137 3 Disguise” (Sony/Columb $30.3 $1,481 ia) 10 “The Adventures $2.2 2,320 1 of Pluto Nash” (Warner $2.2 $941 Bros.) Source: Exhibitor Relations Co

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The sci-fi thriller “Signs” was a close second with $19.4 million. Meanwhile, Eddie Murphy had one of his worst box-office showings in two decades as “The Adventures of Pluto Nash” opened to only $2.2 million for a dismal $941 per-screen average.

A summer that began with a bang seems to be ending with a whimper. Since Memorial Day weekend, grosses are up only 4% compared with last summer, while attendance is about the same, according to Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations Co.