Pamela McClintock of Variety:
The fall box office got off to its shakiest start in years as Danny and Oxide Pang's Nicolas Cage crime actioner "Bangkok Dangerous" barely beat holdover comedy "Tropic Thunder."
"Bangkok," distributed by Lionsgate, grossed an estimated $7.8 million as it bowed in 2,650 theaters. "Tropic Thunder," which has enjoyed strong legs, declined 35% in its fourth frame to an estimated $7.5 million from 3,446 runs for a cume of $96.8 million.
The first weekend after Labor Day is always sluggish, but this year was particularly dreary.
Total ticket sales at the domestic B.O. are estimated at $64 million to $66 million for the weekend, making it the softest weekend in eight years. In 2000, ticket sales came in at $61.7 million.
Weekend was down as much as 17% from the same frame a year ago, when Lionsgate enjoyed bigger grosses with "3:10 to Yuma," which opened to $14 million.
Weak sesh came just as studio specialty arms and indie distribs like Lionsgate gathered at the Toronto Film Festival to launch their key fall releases, such as the Coen brothers' "Burn After Reading," which opens next weekend and is being counted on to re-energize the box office.
"The Women," the last Picturehouse title, also opens Friday and is tracking strongly among older women. Picturehouse's Bob Berney was in Toronto for the fest, although the pic did not play here.
Lionsgate said "Bangkok Dangerous," the only new release of the weekend, performed in line with expectations, even if overall theater traffic was sluggish. Studio acquired the project for domestic distribution.
"It will be a small, nicely profitable film for us," Lionsgate distribution topper Steve Rothenberg said.
In September, Lionsgate's Nicolas Cage starrer "Lord of War" debuted to $9.4 million on its way to cuming $24.1 million domestically.
Placing No. 3 for the weekend was Sony's female-skewing comedy "The House Bunny," which declined a slim 29% in its third frame to an estimated $5.9 million from 2,736 screens for a cume of $37 million.
Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight" stayed in the top five in its eighth weekend, declining 34% to an estimated $5.7 million from 2,575 runs for a cume of $512.2 million.
Overture Film's political thriller "Traitor" came in No. 5 for the weekend, declining 41% in its second frame to an estimated $4.7 million from 2,108 runs for a cume of $17.7 million.
Twentieth Century Fox's "Babylon A.D." fell 58% in its second frame, grossing an estimated $4 million from 3,425 runs for a cume of $17.2 million in its first 10 days. Pic placed No. 6.
Coming in No. 7 for the weekend was Universal's "Death Race," another male-skewing actioner. It 43% in its third frame to an estimated $3.6 million from 2,586 runs for a cume of $29.8 million in its third sesh.
Universal's "Mamma Mia!" once again sung sweetly, placing No. 8 for the weekend in its eight sesh. Musical declined 36% to an estimated $2.7 million from 1,904 runs for a cume of $136.3 million.
Sony's laffer "Pineapple Express" came in No. 10. Comedy declined 32% in its fifth sesh to an estimated $2.4 million from 1,802 runs for a cume of $84.1 million...
Joshua Rich of EW:
Nicolas Cage's ''Bangkok Dangerous'' made just $7.8 mil, but won the worst box office weekend in five years
Things should definitely pick up next week...as Fall revs up...
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