Weekend Box Office: Can't Beat The Rush!

[James Harvey]

Following are the top 10 movies at the North American box office for the August 3-5 weekend, according to studio estimates collected Sunday by Reuters. Final data will be issued Monday.

1 (+) Rush Hour 2 ........................ $66.8 million ($66.8 mill)
2 (1) Planet of the Apes ................. $28.5 million ($124.7 mill
3 (+) The Princess Diaries ............... $23.2 million ($23.3 mill)
4 (2) Jurassic Park III .................. $12.1 million ($146.8 mill)
5 (3) America's Sweethearts .............. $ 8.4 million ($75.1 mill)
6 (+) Original Sin ....................... $ 6.4 million ($6.4 mill)
7 (4) Legally Blonde ..................... $ 6.1 million ($71.6 mill)
8 (5) The Score .......................... $ 5.0 million ($57.3 mill)
9 (7) Cats & Dogs ........................ $ 2.3 million ($86.8 mill)
10 (6) Dr. Dolittle 2 ..................... $ 2.1 million ($106 mill)

Man, Rush Hour 2 opened larger than I guessed! I figure dit'd open with $40 mill tops! And POTA fell farther, too. But POTA will still be one of the ibgger hits of the summer, likely, along with JP3 and POTA.

Edited to add cumulative gross of top 10 films.

[Mr. Eye]

Wow! Rush Hour crushed the competition. I'm really surprised it made that much. I wanted to go see it yesterday, but none of my friends were free.

Mr. Eye

[James Harvey]

It demolished the competition! The original opened with just around $40 mill I think, and ended up with about $140 mill all togethor. I think this sequel will definatly break that total. I was supposed to see it last night, but things didn't exactly turn out as planned. I hope to see it ASAP, though. I can't wait for the Infifilm DVD of RH2.

[Mr. Eye]

Same with me. Last night was the original plan, but it fell through. Although, I WILL be seeing it tonight. I'll post up a review in the next few days.

Mr. Eye

[James Harvey]

I hope to see it in the next few days also. It's funny how NEW LINE was worried the movie may open with a small gross becuase of the theatre chains were threatening to pull it. I bet they're happy with this. :)

[Calhoun07]

I missed the controversy...why were chains threatening to not show Rush Hour 2?

[The Clown Prince]

WOW, I'm really surprised that Rush Hour 2 did as well as did considering it wasn't playing in the U.S.'s largest chain, Regal Cinemas. Just think, if it were playing, it might have had a bigger opening weekend. All I can remember about Rush Hour 2 not playing was because New Line and Regal couldn't come to a deal about money. This same deal includes this December's Fellowship of the Ring. New Line and Regal are both hoping that they can come to an agreement by December. BTW, Rush Hour 2 was pretty funny.

The Clown Prince

[James Harvey]

The disagreement is pretty simple. With ticket prices rising, New Line wanted to extend their percentage a bit, but the theatre claim wants nothing of it. The theatre chain wants to keep all the extra money made by the rising costs, while New Line wants to rise their rental prices for the movies. As of yet, there is no agreement. It is expected to be fixed soon, because even at 3 hours, LOR DOF THE RINGS is expected to be HUGE!

[Inque]

i'm glad it did very well. it was a hillarious movie too.

i'm glad asian-influenced movies are getting more recognition in the usa.

[Robin2099]

Woo hoo! I'm really glad to see RH2 open so big! It topped the first one in every single way, from stunts to comedy and right now is my favorite movie of the summer. The outtakes at the end were hilarious as well.

[Calhoun07]

But is it better than the original Rush Hour?

[James Harvey]

The Chan outtakes are always something great to see at the end. They're hilarious and sometimes jaw dropping.

[Inque]

I'd say the second one was better because it had a little more humor because Jackie Chan could speak better English and because Chris Tucker is a total fool in China. Also, you would have had to watch the first movie because they brought back some jokes from the first movie.

[Nightwing]

That's a good thing to know. I haven't seen the first one in quite a while. I really loved it though, and I can't wait to see the second one.

They are even doing that promotional gig they did with The Mummy Returns. Buy the first movie on DVD and there's some sort of offer for movie tickets for the second one inside it.

[Mr. Eye]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
The Chan outtakes are always something great to see at the end. They're hilarious and sometimes jaw dropping.

Yeah especially the part where someone calls Tucker on his cell and wants to speak to Jackie Chan.

Mr. Eye

[Jowy Blight]

I saw it, I think it was quite funny. The outtakes were funny and shocking as usual, like one where the bad guy falls out of that building and Chris says "He isn't going to be in Rush Hour 3". This was one of the few movies I been to that the whole theator starts laughing loudly. But recommend that you see the first or you might not get some of the jokes. This is a movie you don't want to miss.

[James Harvey]

Chan is just so cool. I'm glad this movie is so big. He desveres it. Especially for doing the vast, vast, vast, vast majority of his own stunts.

[Robin2099]

Yeah its true you defenantly have to have a good memory of the first one to get some of the jokes. But it was defenantly better than the first one, had more laughs, and Jackie like always is amazing. Actually, by the end of the credits, the entire theatre was cheering and clapping!