Talladega Nights The Ballad of Ricky Bobby lapped the competition for a commanding lead estimated at $47.6 million at the weekend box office. That left the rest of the field in the dust with the kidtoon Barnyard a distant second milking $15.7 million and The Descent scaled back with $8.6 million. The frame also featured excellent bows for the thriller Bon Cop Bad Cop in Quebec and, in limited release, the Sundance award winner Quinceanera.

There was no denying the ascendancy of Will Ferrell’s fictional NASCAR racer as he took to the track Friday. By Talladega matinee it was clear that the hijinx would exceed industry estimates that pegged it no higher than $35 million. It was easily the performer’s most potent opening and clearly the shameless promotional huckstering translated into rich rewards. The race to see it opening day could however be seen in an 11% drop in Saturday’s business.

Considering the dire prognostications for yet another animated animal movie in the multiplex,Barnyard’s bow was also slightly better than expected … but hardly a commercial stampede. The strains of competition in family viewing were evident in the picture’s barely discernable 4% upturn from Friday to Saturday. Still if there was anyone that believed there were no limits to movie toons in the marketplace, the current marketplace dispelled that notion.

Last weekend’s freshmen all took substantive hits including Miami Vice with a 62% drop and The Ant Bully declining by 55%. In the current frame it was the exception to find a holdover that sustained less than 50% erosion.

Revenues climbed to close to $145 million and for the immediate future August is shaping up as a stronger than usual period. Box office improved by 8% from the prior weekend and was up 25% from 2005 when the premiere of The Dukes of Hazzard led with a $30.7 million gross. Next weekend’s eclectic mix of World Trade Center and Snakes on a Plane plus the second Talladega lap should be very formidable.

In international release for more than a year, the chilling The Descent arrived on these shores with impressive genre appeal. Lionsgate is rapidly taking over the indie mantle held by New Line prior to its acquisition by Castle Rock that led to being part of the Time Warner family.

Sundance grads provided mixed results as they entered into commercial play. The eerie suspenserThe Night Listener had no better than passable response of $3.5 million from 1,367 locations. However, Quinceanera, a drama of remarkable power, translated well in its initial foray in eight theaters. It generated a screen average of $10,800 and critical response as well as positive word-of-mouth should bode well for expansion over the next two months. While Quinceanera is well positioned for niche success, the Sundance premiered comedy Little Miss Sunshine is demonstrating signs of crossover appeal. It expanded from seven to 58 engagements and maintained a very healthy $25,700 theater average.

Setting records in its Quebec bow, the policier Bon Cop Bad Cop blew away the competition with an estimated $1.8 million. The release was timed to a Canadian holiday long weekend and its dynamic opening salvo has already prompted talk of a more aggressive than usual plan for English Canadian theaters. Also in specialized venues, Bollywood’s Anthony Kaun Hai registered tepid results of $42,300 from 18 circuit playdates.

In exclusives there was good response of $8,650 to the French thriller The Bridesmaid in a single locale. My Country, My Country was indifferent in a $3,900 solo flight and few bit at two Jailbaitscreens that generated a $2,300 gross.

– by Leonard Klady

Top Domestic Grosses: January 1 – August 3, 2006

Domestic Market Share: January 1 – July 27, 2006

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