Almighty disappointments

The comedy “Evan Almighty” and the Angelina Jolie drama “A Mighty Heart” both opened below expectations. But the horror film “1408,” based on a Stephen King story, looks like a surprise hit after its solid launch.

Last week’s top film, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” took a steep 65% drop. “Knocked Up” and “Surf’s Up” continue to hold up well in theaters.

Outside the top 10, Michael Moore’s healthcare documentary “Sicko” grossed a strong $70,000 at one New York theater and sold out at Saturday night sneak preview screenings at 43 others around the country. It opens nationally Friday.

Industrywide ticket sales were down from the same period in 2006 for the fourth straight weekend.

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

*--* MOVIE 3-DAY TOTAL WEEKS (STUDIO) GROSS (MILLS.) (MILLS.)

1 Evan Almighty (Universal) $32.1 $32.1 1

2 1408 (Weinstein/MGM) 20.2 20.2 1

3 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (20th Century Fox) 20.2 97.6 2

4 Ocean’s Thirteen (Warner Bros.) 11.3 91.0 3

5 Knocked Up (Universal) 10.6 109.0 4

6 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (Disney) 7.2 287.0 5

7 Surf’s Up (Sony) 6.7 47.3 3

8 Shrek the Third (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) 5.8 307.9 6

9 Nancy Drew (Warner Bros.) 4.5 16.2 2

10 A Mighty Heart (Paramount Vantage) 4.0 4.0 1

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Industry totals

*--* 3-day gross Change Year-to-date gross Change (in millions) from 2006 (in billions) from 2006 $133.0 -4.8% $4.37 +3.5%

*--*

Note: A movie may be shown on more than one screen at each venue.

Source: Media by Numbers

Los Angeles Times