Black Hawk Sends Rings Down

After reigning at number one for four weeks, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, with primary visual effects by WETA, took a tumble to third place in the face of two new flicks released this week. LOTR took in $13M for a cume of $245.9M. War drama BLACK HAWK DOWN, with visual effects by The Mill, made a stellar showing in wide release, earning $29M this weekend for a total of $30.8M and the top box office spot. In second place was the family-friendly comedy SNOW DOGS, with $17.5M. A BEAUTIFUL MIND, with primary visual effects by Digital Domain, was fourth, with $11M for the weekend and $73.9M to date. OCEAN’S ELEVEN, with visual effects by E=mc2 and Cinesite, took in $5.7M for $170.5M and sixth place. The Cruise and Cruz starrer VANILLA SKY, with visual effects by Digital Domain, rounded out the top ten, with $3.1M for the weekend and $93.2M to date. Showing that it doesn’t have quite the staying power of 2001’s other 3D animated hits, SHREK and MONSTERS, INC., Nickelodeon’s JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS, has already dropped out of the top ten, falling five places to number 11 in its 5th week of release. The boy genius earned $3M for the weekend, for a cume of $72.8M.