Horror film in ‘Hostel’ takeover at box office
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.