Happy Feet & Casino Royale Have Turkey Legs
Source: Box Office Mojo
November 26, 2006


The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Be sure to check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office.

Newcomers were no competition for Happy Feet and Casino Royale over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend, as the two hits remained firmly in first and second, respectively.

Warner Bros. Pictures' animated Happy Feet reached the $100 million mark after just 10 days. The $100 million-budgeted film earned $39.9 million from Friday to Sunday, while making $51.5 million during the five days, for a total of $100.1 milllion so far.

Casino Royale collected $45.1 million in five days, and $31 million in the three-day portion. With a total of $94.2 million after 10 days, the 21st James Bond installment will likely become the highest-grossing 007 film in the franchise's history. It cost about $150 million to make.

Out of the newcomers, Touchstone Pictures' DéjÃ. Vu fared best with an estimated $29 million from 3,108 theaters over the five days, and $20.8 million in three. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington, the thriller averaged $6,703 per location.

Fox's holiday comedy Deck the Halls, starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick, debuted in fourth with $16.9 million for the five days and $12 million in three. The film played in 3,205 theaters.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan dropped two spots to fifth, adding $10.4 million from Friday to Sunday for an impressive total of $109.3 million after four weeks. The Sacha Baron Cohen comedy cost only $18 million to make.

What's become the norm for the "Santa Clause" franchise, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause increased its sales over the Thanksgiving holiday and was up 20.6% from last weekend. The Tim Allen comedy made $10 million over the three day frame for a four-week total of $67.2 million.

Moviegoers didn't show much interest in the other two new wide releases. Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain, starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, earned just $5.4 million over the five days from 1,472 theaters, and New Line's Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, featuring Jack Black and Kyle Gass, opened outside of the top 10 with $5.2 million in five days from 1,919 locations.

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