So Close And Yet...

As hard as it tried-The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor couldn't quite take the top spot away from The Dark Knight over the weekend...



Pamela McClintock of Variety:

Universal's "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" wasn't able steal the box office crown away from Warner Bros.' juggernaut "The Dark Knight," which pulled off the near-impossible by dropping only 42% in its third weekend to all but cross the $400 million mark in domestic ticket sales.

The race was close, however. "Dragon Emperor" grossed $42.4 million domestically from 3,760 screens, while "Dark Knight" grossed $43.8 million from 4,266 theaters for a cume of $394.9 million.

Box observers, along with Universal, had expected "Dragon Emperor" to win the weekend. Film, directed by Rob Cohen, marks the return of the "Mummy" franchise to the big screen after a seven-year lapse. "The Mummy" opened to $43.4 million in 1999, while "The Mummy Returns" debuted to a boffo $68.1 million in 2001.

"Dragon Emperor," returning Brandon Fraser in the title role and also starring franchise newcomer Jet Li," did bigger business overseas, grossing an estimated $59.5 million from 28 markets.

Domestically, the weekend's other new wide entry was Kevin Costner starrer "Swing Vote." Politically comedy saw a muted opening, grossing an estimated $6.9 million from 2,213 theaters to place No. 6 for the weekend. Film drew older moviegoers, with 65% of the audience over the age of 35.

Among holdovers, Sony's R-rated comedy "Step Brothers" came in No. 3 for the weekend behind "Dark Knight" and "Dragon Emperor," respectively. Toplining Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, "Step Brothers" declined 47% in its second sesh to $16.3 million from 3,094 screens for a hearty cume of $63 million in its first 10 days.

Universal's "Mamma Mia" had plenty of reason to dance, declining only 25% in its third weekend to an estimated $13.1 million from 3,062 screens for a cume of $88 million. The Meryl Streep-Amanda Seyfried musical, coming in No. 4 for the frame, is on track to gross upwards of $125 million domestically.

New Line and Walden Media's 3-D action-adventure "Journey to the Center of the Earth" remained high on the box office chart, underscoring the value of being able to charge more for 3-D movies. Also starring Brandon Fraser, the family pic declined a slim 29% to an estimated $6.9 million from 2,285 theaters for a cume of $73.1 million and coming

Twentieth Century Fox's "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" wasn't able to rally after its tepid opening the weekend before. Directed by Chris Carter, pic fell off a steep 66% to an estimated $3.4 million from 3,185 runs for a cume of $17 million in its first 10 days. Pic placed No. 9 for the weekend...

Nicole Sperling of EW:

Christopher Nolan film closes in on the $400 million mark and wins the weekend box office for a third week...

TDK deserves all of the attention---But Wednesday's early opening of Pineapple Express will probably be the flick that knocks it off of its #1 perch...