Martin Scorsese returns to familiar crime turf with THE DEPARTED, which blew away the competition with $26.8M for Warner Bros. in its opening weekend for the period ended Oct. 8, 2006. Thats the directors best opening yet, and he had seamless vfx help from The Basement, Lola Visual Effects and Ockhams Razor, under the supervision of Rob Legato.
Debuting in second was TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING, which scared up $18.5M for New Line. Slipping to third after leading the box office last week was Sonys 3D-animated OPEN SEASON, which hunted down another $15.6M for a cume of $43.7M. Fourth place belonged to another newcomer, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, which mustered $11.4M for Lionsgate. Dropping to the fifth spot was Buena Vistas THE GUARDIAN, which brought home $9.5M for a cume of $32.3M. Paramount's JACKASS: NUMBER TWO settled for sixth with $6.5M and a cume of $62.8M. Seventh belonged to SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS from MGM & The Weinstein Co. with $3.4M and $13.9M. JET LI'S FEARLESS from Rogue Pictures (with vfx from Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Co.) followed in eighth with $2.28M and $21.7M. Sony Picture's GRIDIRON GANG slipped to ninth with $2.23 and $36.5M. THE ILLUSIONIST from Yari Film Group Releasing was the 10th place finisher with $1.8M and $34.1M. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
