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Horror film in 'Hostel' takeover at box office

Posted on: Monday, 9 January 2006, 07:44 CST

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nothing like a torture movie to shake off festive spirits.

The low-budget horror film "Hostel" was the top choice at the weekend box office in North America, selling $20.1 million worth of tickets in its first three days, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday. Its surprisingly strong arrival ended the four-week duel for supremacy between "King Kong" and last weekend's champion, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Produced for less than $5 million and purportedly inspired by true events, "Hostel" revolves around hapless backpackers who are sliced and diced at a Slovakian torture chamber by paying customers. It was written and directed by Eli Roth, who made the 2002 thriller "Cabin Fever."

"Hostel" distributor Lionsgate had hoped it would open in the mid-teen millions, said Steve Rothenberg, president of distribution at the Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. unit.

Young males dominated the audience for the R-rated film, whose raw marketing campaign was reminiscent of Lionsgate's recent hit thriller "Saw II," which ended up with $87 million.

"Hostel" got an additional boost by being marketed as a Quentin Tarantino presentation, since the "Pulp Fiction" director enthusiastically supported Roth's concept from the script stage, and came on board as an executive producer. Anecdotal reports suggested some moviegoers thought Tarantino directed the film, said Rothenberg.

"Hostel" was playing in 2,195 theaters, while the other movies in the top-five were in more than 3,100 each.

"GRANDMA'S BOY" BOMBS

Last weekend's champion, Walt Disney Pictures' "The Chronicles of Narnia," slipped to No. 2 with $15.4 million. Director Andrew Adamson's C.S. Lewis adaptation has earned $247.6 million after five weekends.

Universal Pictures' "King Kong" fell one place to No. 3 with $12.5 million, taking the total for Peter Jackson's big ape remake to $192.5 million after four weekends.

Two newcomers failed to make the top-10, led by "Grandma's Boy," an intergenerational romantic comedy from Adam Sandler's production company. The 20th Century Fox release opened at No. 13 with just $2.9 million. Additionally, the video game-inspired "BloodRayne" earned about $1 million for its independent distributor, Romar Entertainment, according to a rival studio.

Two films worked their way up the top 10 as they went into wider release. Steven Spielberg's revenge thriller "Munich" jumped four places to No. 6 with $7.5 million. The film, loosely based on events that transpired after the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics, has earned $25.2 million after three weekends.

A spokesman for distributor Universal Pictures said the studio was satisfied with the "Munich" results. The film was playing in 1,485 theaters, up from 532 last weekend.

Director Ang Lee's gay-cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain," which has piled up awards-season accolades, returned to the top-10 by rising four places to No. 9 with $5.8 million from 483 theaters. After five weekends, the Focus Features release has earned $22.5 million. It was in 269 theaters last weekend.

Rounding out the top-five, each down one place, were Columbia Pictures' Jim Carrey comedy "Fun with Dick & Jane" at No. 4 with $12.2 million, and Fox's Steve Martin romp "Cheaper By the Dozen 2" at No. 5 with $8.3 million.

Walt Disney Pictures is a unit of Walt Disney Co. Universal Pictures and Focus Features are units of NBC Universal, which is controlled by General Electric Co. Columbia Pictures is a unit of Sony Corp. 20th Century Fox is a unit of News Corp.

Source: REUTERS

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