'Talladega' on Top for a Second Weekend

By Josh Friedman

Aug. 14, 2006 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

The Sept. 11 drama “World Trade Center” had a solid opening weekend, but more moviegoers chose lighter fare, with “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” staying No. 1 at the box office and the dance romance “Step Up” coming in a surprise second.

Sony Pictures’ “Talladega Nights,” the NASCAR parody starring Will Ferrell, drummed up $23 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales, a 51% slide in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Walt Disney Co.’s “Step Up,” the story of a rebellious young dancer who hooks up with a star ballerina, stunned pundits with a gross of $21.1 million.

Paramount Pictures’ “World Trade Center,” which opened Wednesday, pulled in $19 million over the weekend, bringing its five-day total to $26.8 million.

Some analysts had said last week’s alleged terrorist plot in Britain, said to involve a scheme to blow up 10 jets, could crimp business by stirring memories of the 2001 attacks, but the movie performed as expected.

Noting that sales climbed 26% from Friday to Saturday, Paramount said word of mouth could benefit the picture in the coming weeks.

“People are really responding to the movie,” said Rob Moore, the studio’s president of worldwide marketing and distribution.

“They cry, but they find the message of hope and selflessness very inspiring. We feel like we’re in a great position.”

Directed by Oliver Stone and starring Nicolas Cage, the picture cost about $65 million to make. Already, it has generated almost as much business as “United 93,” which came out in late spring.

“World Trade Center” drew an audience that was 55% female and 65% over age 25. In the studio’s surveys, 91% rated it “excellent” or “very good.”

The picture could ultimately top $75 million at the U.S. and Canadian box office if it holds up well. Moore said he expected the film to fall less than 40% next weekend, which would indicate robust holdover business.

“Step Up” demonstrated anew the power of teenage audiences. Made for about $12 million, it features no big stars but was co-written by Duane Adler, who had a hand in the similar 2001 hit “Save the Last Dance.”

Analysts had expected a debut in the $10-million-to-$15-million range.

“This movie is the little engine that could,” said Chuck Viane, Disney’s president of distribution.

The so-called tracking services that studios and analysts use in their estimates often have trouble accurately predicting teen and preteen ticket buying, he said.

Disney marketed the movie heavily on MySpace.com and other Internet sites and released four videos from the picture before Friday’s launch, strategies that helped lure a young crowd. The audience was 70% female and 72% under 25.

Among other new wide releases, “Pulse,” the latest remake of a Japanese horror movie, fared about as expected, grossing an estimated $8.5 million for Weinstein Co.

Sony’s “Zoom,” a family-oriented superhero saga starring Tim Allen, was a major disappointment, grossing only $4.6 million.

“Talladega Nights,” in contrast, has rung up $91.2 million through 10 days. It will soon become Sony’s third movie of the summer to top $100 million at the U.S. and Canadian box office, after “The Da Vinci Code” and the Adam Sandler comedy “Click.”

Among other holdovers, Paramount’s “Barnyard: The Original Party Animals” generated $10.1 million in its second weekend, a modest 36% decline.

Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” kept dead aim on $400 million, grossing $7.2 million to raise its tally after six weeks to $392.4 million.

“Pirates” stands at No. 7 on the all-time list, with a strong chance of getting to at least No. 6, the spot held by the original “Spider-Man” at $403.7 million.

“Pirates” was No. 1 internationally a sixth straight weekend, pulling in $44 million outside the U.S. and Canada. Its worldwide total surged to $855 million, the 11th highest ever.

Lions Gate’s “The Descent” added $4.6 million in its second weekend, lifting its total to $17.5 million. It looks like a moneymaker for the thrifty distributor, even if it doesn’t match Lions Gate horror hits “Saw” ($55.2 million) and “Hostel” ($47.3 million).

Universal’s “Miami Vice,” which opened at the top of the box-office charts three weeks ago, continued to struggle. The expensive thriller, which cost about $140 million to make, grossed $4.5 million to bring its total to $55.1 million.

The industry’s strong summer continued, with overall weekend ticket sales totaling $126 million, topping those of the comparable weekend a year earlier for the 19th weekend in the last 21, according to Exhibitor Relations Co.

Next weekend, New Line Cinema uncoils “Snakes on a Plane” starring Samuel L. Jackson, the movie that has Internet fans drooling with anticipation. Universal is counterprogramming with “Accepted,” a college comedy starring Justin Long.

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Box office

Preliminary results (in millions) in the U.S. and Canada, based on studio projections:

*--* Movie 3-day gross Total Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby $23.0 $91.2

Step Up 21.1 21.1

World Trade Center 19.0 26.8

Barnyard: The Original Party Animals 10.1 34.1

Pulse 8.5 8.5

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest 7.2 392.4

The Descent 4.6 17.5

Zoom 4.6 4.6

Miami Vice 4.5 55.1