Despite leading the pack in its debut, New Lines MONSTER-IN-LAW did nothing to quell the 12-week dry spell at the box office that should get a big jolt with this weeks anticipated monster hit, STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH. The Jennifer Lopez/Jane Fonda comedy collected $23.1M for the weekend ended May 15, 2005. That was better than two other newcomers: KICKING & SCREAMING, which kicked up $20.1M for Universal, thanks to the presence of Will Ferrell, and UNLEASHED, which grabbed $10.9M for Universals specialty division, Focus. Last weeks winner, the crusading KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (with vfx from The Moving Picture Co., Double Negative, Framestore CFC and Clear), sunk to number four with $9.6M and a two-week cume of $35M. Lions Gates CRASH dipped to fifth place with $7M and $19.6M. Warner Bros. HOUSE OF WAX (with vfx by Photon VFX) slipped to sixth with $6.5M and $21.9M. Buena Vistas THE HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (with vfx by Cinesite) came in seventh place with $5M and $43.5M. Universals THE INTERPRETER settled for the eighth spot with $4.5M and $61.1M. Sony Revolutions XXX: STATE OF THE UNION (with vfx from ILM) followed in ninth place with $2.1M and $24.3M. Rounding out the top 10 was Dimensions MINDHUNTERS (with vfx from Cinesite), which debuted with $1.9M. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
