A holiday record for 'Pirates'

A holiday record for ‘Pirates’

L.A. Times Archives

May 29, 2007 12 AM PT

The third voyage of Capt. Jack Sparrow and the gang opened through Monday to more than $150 million in the U.S. and Canada, including Thursday night’s “preview” screenings. “Pirates” got the widest domestic launch in Hollywood history, opening at 4,362 theaters.

“Spider-Man 3” has already topped $300 million domestically. “Pirates” and “Shrek the Third” look headed for that level as well.

Although “Pirates” can now claim to be Hollywood’s biggest holiday starter, Spidey still holds the opening-weekend record -- the most widely watched box-office benchmark. But historically the “Shrek” and “Pirates” franchises have shown stronger legs, so it could be a close race to see which ends up with the highest total.

The thriller “Bug,” the only other new movie to get a wide release over the weekend, opened with $4.2 million, about what was expected. Most of the major holdover films were squeezed out of theaters to make room for newer films. Fox Searchlight’s comedy “Waitress,” which burst into the top five after expanding to more theaters in its fourth weekend, looks increasingly like an indie hit.

The domestic box office is running 6.4% ahead of last year’s pace.

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

*--* MOVIE 4-DAY TOTAL (STUDIO) GROSS (MILLS.) (MILLS.) WEEKS

1 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $142.1 $156.1 1 (Disney)

2 Shrek the Third (DreamWorks 69.1 219.4 2 Animation/Paramount)

3 Spider-Man 3 (Sony) 18.0 307.6 4

4 Bug (Lions Gate) 4.2 4.2 1

5 Waitress (Fox Searchlight) 4.0 6.5 4

6 28 Weeks Later (Fox Atomic) 3.3 24.4 3

7 Disturbia (Paramount) 2.4 74.9 7

8 Georgia Rule (Universal) 2.4 16.8 3

9 Fracture (New Line) 1.6 37.1 6