MGM's strategy in making a lower-cost BARBERSHOP sequel paid off, as BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS debuted on top with $24.2M. Disney's MIRACLE, about the 1980 Olympic miracle on ice in which the U.S. beat the Soviet Union, debuted in second place with $19.3M. Last week's champ, Screen Gems' YOU GOT SERVED, dipped to third in its second outing, collecting $7.5M and $25.8M to date. Universal's ALONG CAME POLLY came in fourth with $6.8M and a cume of $75M. New Line's THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT (with vfx by Schminken Studio and Toybox) dropped to THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (with Weta Digital providing most of the vfx wizardry) still hung in there with another $4.2M to add its amazing total of $351M. Warner Bros.' MYSTIC RIVER, the other big Oscar contender, took the eighth spot with $3.6M and $69.8M. Newmarket's MONSTER, buoyed by Charlize Theron's monster performance, cracked the top 10 for the first time at number nine with $3.5M and $15.2M. And Miramax's COLD MOUNTAIN held at number 10 with $3.2M and $82.8M. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
