DreamWorks THE RING TWO more than doubled the originals opening, debuting in top spot with $35.1M (vfx by Rhythm & Hues), about the same take as last weeks No. 1, ROBOTS which held well in second place, posting $21M for the 3D-animated feature from Fox/Blue Sky for a two-week take of $66M.
Rounding out the 10 for the weekend ended March 20, 2005, was Buena Vistas Vin Diesel youth comedy, THE PACIFIER, which scored $12.5M for a three-week cum of $72.3M. ICE PRINCESS (vfx by Rhythm & Hues and Mr. X Inc.) premiered in fourth place, capturing $6.8M for Buena Vista. Sonys HITCH remained at fifth with $6.5M and $159.3M. Miramaxs Bruce Willis thriller, HOSTAGE, captured another $6M for a cume of $19.5M in its second week while MGMs BE COOL dropped to sixth with $5.9M and $47.3M, followed by Clint Eastwoods Oscar winner, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, in eighth with 4M and a cume of $90M. Lions Gates DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN was ninth with $2.4M and $47.7M. Warner Bros. CONSTANTINE (with vfx by ESC Ent., Tippett Studio, Hydraulx and Spectrum Effects) fell to 10th with $2.3M and cume of $70.4M.
Triumph released Katsuhiro Otomos retro sci-fi anime STEAMBOY to 39 theaters for a take of $136,148. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.
