Weekend Box Office #105

So the economy is loudly tanking... but there's still the movies.

Even in the Depression, the movie business did well. People are loking for an escape.

Of course, they didn't have TV back then.

Still, the movie business is one of the few things that actually funnels a large chunk of money back into the U.S. economy from the rest of the world.

Now all Hollywood needs to do is make some good movies. But I fear we may be doomed for another weekend of Chihuahuas in first place.

Opening widely this weekend:

THE EXPRESS (2808 theaters). Reviews haven't been nearly good enough for a film like this to do well, while the commercials hide the fact that this is actually a rather depressing story. $7.8 million for the weekend.

BODY OF LIES (2710 theaters). Reviews have been pretty glum for this too; apparently the movie is just rather boring. Leo and Russell will bring out some moviegoers, but how many? Prediction: $12.3 million.

QUARANTINE (2461 theaters). I wouldn't be surprised to see this do well, and maybe even sneak into first. They are advertising the Hell out of it, and it looks freaky. But people may just wait 8 weeks for it to come out on DVD. $13.1 million.

CITY OF EMBER (2022 theaters). I read this book for someone, and thought it was problematic as film fodder; it's a bit too bleak for kids, while the young leads aren't going to bring in adults. Reviews aren't great, and I think it's going to tank. $4.1 million.

THE DUCHESS (1207 theaters, up from 127). This is supposed to be okay, but I think it's time for Keira to start doing movies where she isn't bound up in corsets. $5.2 million.

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Last weekend, the Chihuahuas dominated, with $29.3 million. Nick and Norah only did $11.3 million; solid enough, but not as good as I thought it might.

Nothing else did well at all. American Carol did $3.6, Religulous did $3.4, Flash of Genius did $2.3.

Blindness completely tanked, doing only $1.9 million. How To Lose Friends and Alienate People was a complete non-starter, doing only $1.4 million on more screens.