HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS snowballed all the newcomers in its fourth weekend at the U.S. box office. The Who-ville hijinks, with primary visual effects by Digital Domain, shoveled in another US$18.65 million, piling its green up to the tune of $195.6 million. Therefore, the debut of VERTICAL LIMIT landed in second. The K2 rescue flick, with primary visual effects by Centropolis Effects, dug up $15.51 million. PROOF OF LIFE's premiere had to settle for a lackluster third place finish. The kidnapping love triangle, with primary visual effects by Cinesite, garnered $10.21 million. UNBREAKABLE slipped to fourth with a gross of $7.54 million. The comic book caper, with primary visual effects by The Secret Lab and TSL, has rescued $77.4 million thus far. DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS made its nod in fifth. The role playing game flick, with primary visual effects by SXS, VisionArt and Flat Earth Productions, collected only $7.24 million. Dropping from third to pop up in sixth, 102 DALMATIANS barked in an additional $6.23 million. The dotted pup pic, with primary visual effects by The Secret Lab, has collared $44.28 million so far. RUGRATS IN PARIS flew in at #7, with a ticket take of $3.95 million. The French free-for-all, with animation by Klasky Csupo, has rounded up $60.47 million to date. In ninth, CHARLIE'S ANGELS kicked in another $2.63 million. The high-octane chick flick, with primary visual effects by Flash Film Works, has seduced $119.3 million in America alone. Slipping from eighth to finish #12, 6TH DAY cloned $1.37 million. The Arnold Schwarzenegger switcheroo, with primary visual effects by Rhythm & Hues and Cinesite, has secured $33 million. At #14, LITTLE NICKY possessed another $862,745. The Satan send-up, with primary visual effects by VisionArt, Pixel Magic and Rhythm & Hues, has amassed $38.16 million. Making its nod on 16 screens around the U.S., CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, with primary visual effects by Centropolis Effects, kicked in an amazing $663,205. That's a per screen average of $41,450 compared to that of THE GRINCH which was $5,860 per venue this past weekend. In 17th place, THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE swung in $326,825. The spiritual sports pic, with primary visual effects by PDI, has scored $30.37 million thus far. Other animated and special effects laden films finishing in the top fifty were: CYBERWORLD 3D at #21, with a gross of $173,593 and a cume of $3.4 million; RED PLANET at #25, with a gross of $115,785 and a cume of $17.05 million; WHAT LIES BENEATH at #30, with a gross of $90,990 and a cume of $155.2 million; ALMOST FAMOUS at #31, with a gross of $80,803 and a cume of $31.85 million; THE EXORCIST at #33, with a gross of $71,145 and a cume of $39.57 million; THE CELL at #37, with a gross of $49,114 and a cume of $61.28 million; NUTTY PROFESSOR II: THE KLUMPS at #43, with a gross of $40,800 and a cume of $123.2 million; and SNATCH at #49, with a gross of $27,932 and a cume of $37,662. Box office figures were obtained at HollywoodReporter.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
