The real victor in this week’s American box office charts wasn’t people seeking out quality entertainment. Nope, it was Mr Demi Moore. Yes, Aston Kutcher managed to appear in the top two films – and if some of you are hearing the horsemen of the apocalypse galloping over the horizon - then we don’t blame you.
Top dog – or rather, bear and deer – was Open Season, Sony Animation’s first major film. The buddy comedy took in $23 million this weekend, boosted by a hefty Imax 3D release and solid family business.
Landing with a splash in second place was Kutcher’s other new film – watery coast guard drama The Guardian. Even Kevin Costner giving his leathery best as the grizzled, tragic instructor trying to whip Kutcher’s cocky trainee into (ship)shape couldn’t win the formulaic movie more than $17 million.
The double dose of The Kutch shoved Jackass Number Two into third position, with Johnny Knoxville and co wrangling $14 million out of America. Fourth place went to the third new release of the week – Jon Heder being taught to be more confident by Billy Bob Thornton in School For Scoundrels was worth just $9.1 million to America.
The rest of the top 10 are returning movies – from the successful (The Illusionist and Little Miss Sunshine both managed to stay in the charts, taking $2.8 million and $2.2 million respectively). Gridiron Gang continued to score decent cash, with $4.5 million this weekend and $33 million overall.
Less successful are the likes of Flyboys, which has only made $9.9 million so far, while The Black Dahlia has only made $20 million in its three week release.
Here, in the forest of box office figures, we spot the gentle, yet elusive creatures known as The Charts!
1
**Open Season
** $23000,000
$23,000,000
1
2
**The Guardian
** $17,667,000
$17,667,000
1
3
**Jackass Number Two
**
$14,010,000
$51,452,000
2
4
**School For Scoundrels
**
$9,109,000
$9,109,000
1
5
**Jet Li's Fearless
**
$4,702,000
$17,785,000
2
6
**Gridiron Gang
**
$4,500,000
$33,177,000
3
7
**The Illusionist
**
$2,845,000
$2,845,000
7
8
**Flyboys
**
$2,320,000
$9,915,000
2
9
The Black Dahlia
$2,069,000
$20,683,000
3
10
**Little Miss Sunshine
**
$2,020,000
$53,162,000
10