The new Harry Potter got beat--by what? Natalie Portman's Oscar vehicle rolled out--did it stall? And Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor finally got it on--was it worth the wait?
The box-office results:
Tangled overcame Deathly Hallows Part 1, and a No. 2 Thanksgiving debut, to win the weekend with an estimated $21.5 million.
The Disney-produced 3-D take on Rapunzel is just the second film this year, after How to Train Your Dragon, to go No. 1 after starting out of the top spot, Exhibitor Relations reminded us.
The latest Harry Potter settled for $16.7 million, and second place. Its reign at No. 1 lasted two weeks, so, yes, that's over, but it's still conjuring huge numbers, so, no, it's not over. Worldwide, the film has grossed more than $620 million in just 17 days.
Elsewhere, Portman's demented dance movie, Black Swan ($1.4 million), went crazy in limited release, nearly cracking the Top 10 despite showing at only 18 theaters. All in all, a great start, and a fine way to keep your name, and your movie, in the Oscar discussion.
Carrey's and McGregor's long-delayed I Love You, Phillip Morris did OK at six theaters ($113,000). In another weekend, its per-screen average might have impressed, but not in a weekend of Black Swan and The King's Speech ($326,000 at six theaters).
The only new major release, The Warrior's Way, wasn't so major: The Kate Bosworth ninja movie--make that, the last Kate Bosworth ninja movie--opened in ninth place with just $3.1 million.
Morning Glory ($1.8 million; $29.1 million overall) dropped out of the Top 10 way shy of matching its reported $40 million budget.
As for the weekend's burning question: Burlesque--did it bomb yet?
Well, in its second weekend, the Cher-Christina Aguilera flick (third place, $6.1 million) actually held better than Showgirls , and even the new Harry Potter. On the downside, it's still not quite half-way home to its reported $55 million budget, at least domestically, where it stands at about $27 million.
Here's a complete look at the weekend's top-grossing films, per Friday-Sunday estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo:
1. Tangled, $21.5 million 2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, $16.7 million3. Burlesque, $6.1 million (tie)3. Unstoppable, $6.1 million (tie)5. Love and Other Drugs, $5.7 million6. Megamind, $5 million7. Due Date, $4.2 million8. Faster, $3.8 million9. The Warrior's Way, $3.1 million10. The Next Three Days, $2.7 million
(Originally published Dec. 5, 2010, at 11:03 a.m. PT)