Peter Jackson’s KING KONG performed well below industry expectations with $50.1M in its initial bow for the weekend ended Dec. 18, 2005. However, with a five-day tally of $66.1M, Universal has high hopes that momentum will build for the $207M epic (with impressive vfx from Weta Digital).

Meanwhile, in its second weekend, Disney’s THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (with impressive vfx of its own from Rhythm & Hues, Sony Pictures Imageworks and ILM) finished second with $31.8M and a cume of $113.1M.

Fox’s THE FAMILY STONE debuted in third place with $12.5M. Warner Bros.’ HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (with vfx from Double Negative, Framestore CFC, MPC, ILM, Cinesite, Animal Logic, The Orphanage, BUF and Rising Sun) dropped to fourth with $5.9M and $252.5M. Warner Bros.’ SYRIANA (with vfx by Hydraulx) followed in fifth place with $5.6M and $22.4M. Fox’s WALK THE LINE slipped to sixth with $3.6M and a cume of $82.6M. Seventh place went to Paramount’s YOURS, MINE AND OURS with $3.5M and $45.2M. Armed with critics’ awards and Oscar buzz, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN from Focus shot up to the eighth spot with $2.5M and a cume of $3.4M. New Line’s JUST FRIENDS settled for ninth with $2M and $29.5M. Finishing 10th was Paramount’s AEON FLUX (with vfx from Digital Domain, Hydraulx, The Orphanage and Majesco Sales), which took in $1.7M to add to its disappointing total of $23.2M. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.