Comment #1

NBey6 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:09:54 GMT

<br />************************************************************************<br /><br />I read somewhere that adoptions agencies/orphanages were concerned that the movie 'Orphan' may affect little girls waiting for placement. By the looks of 55 percent female audience, they may be right.<br /><br

Original Blog Entry: 'G-Force' beats 'Ugly Truth' and 'Potter' at box office

NBey6 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:06:31 GMT

'G-Force' beats 'Ugly Truth' and 'Potter' at box office

Story Highlights Disney's family comedy brought in an estimated $32.2 million over the weekend The sixth installment of the Potter series raked in another $30 million at No. 2 The Ugly Truth, starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, took in $27 million Check out the other top earners on this weekend's top 10 list

By Adam Markovitz

(Entertainment Weekly) -- Neither the magic of Harry Potter nor the combined star power of Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler was enough to keep a crew of wise-cracking guinea pigs from scurrying to the top of the box office this weekend.

Disney's family comedy G-Force, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage, Will Arnett, and Penelope Cruz as a team of world-saving rodents, made an estimated $32.2 million in its debut.

Despite opening hot on the heels of the one-week old Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the animation/live action hybrid pic was a hit with young audiences, pulling 55 percent of its viewers from the under-18 crowd.

But Potter's box office magic hasn't worn off just yet: The series' sixth installment landed in the number two spot its second weekend with $30 million, bringing its total to $221.8 million.

After just 12 days in theaters, 'Half-Blood' is already the fifth biggest hit of the year domestically, not to mention overseas, where the powerhouse has raked in an additional $236 million.

There was plenty for adults to enjoy at the box office, too. The Ugly Truth, a raunchy R-rated rom-com that pits Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler in a battle of the sexes, scored an impressive $27 million bow, a career best for both Heigl and director Robert Luketic ( Legally Blonde ).

The weekend's other wide release, Warner Bros' creepy Orphan -- starring Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga -- pulled in $12.8 million from an audience that was 55 percent female.

Lower down on the chart, Fox Searchlight's (500) Days of Summer (at number 11 with $3 million) is still building momentum. The quirky rom-com posted a hefty $19,176 per-site average and a 95 percent increase over its debut last weekend.

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