Australian Box Office Report (9th - 12th September 2004)

[FilmBuff84]

Here's the top 20 films at the Australian Box Office for the weekend Thursday the 2nd to Sunday the 5th of September 2004.



Dodgeball hits the mark

(1) (Debut) DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY
(2) (2) THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
(3) (1) THE VILLAGE
(4) (3) SUDDENLY 30
(5) (Debut) THE TERMINAL
(6) (4) AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
(7) (Preview Screenings) A CINDERELLA STORY
(8) (6) THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS
(9) (5) HELLBOY
(10) (7) WHITE CHICKS
(11) (9) FAHRENHEIT 9/11
(12) (8) THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
(13) (Preview Screenings) GARFIELD: THE MOVIE
(14) (New) CORPORATION
(15) (13) BEFORE SUNSET
(16) (Preview Screenings) SOMERSAULT
(17) (15) ZATOICHI
(18) (11) MAN ON FIRE
(19) (12) I, ROBOT
(20) (19) NASCAR 3D

Despite only really kicking into gear with its promotion a few weeks before its release, the comedy sport of DODGEBALL proved a game many had to watch over the weekend. The Vince Vaughn flick collected $2,343,763, but has totalled $2,518,692 (US $25,875,029) given its Advance Screenings last week. Still holding on well is Matt Damon in THE BOURNE SUPREMACY. The action sequel only dropped 38% in its third week of release and still managed $1,604,899, bumping the films total to a very nice $11,331,324 (US $116,408,968), marking it as the #14th Highest Grossing film of the year, with only a 3 Million window to get it into the Top 10. Dropping from the top spot, and falling 55% in the process, was THE VILLAGE. Last week's victor still collected a good $1,401,711 and has rounded up a decent $5,281,328 (US $54,256,143). Jennifer Garner kept her audiences happy with only a 27% drop over the weekend. Her viewers had forked out $3,799,235 (US $39,030,304) to see her turn SUDDENLY 30. Debuting lower than I expected was the weeks other main release THE TERMINAL. The film had a better cinema coverage with trailers etc than Dodgeball and is arguably stacked with more talent, but the Hank/Spielberg/Zeta-Jones team up could only manage a #5 debut. Its first week intake totalled $1,275,197 (US $13,100,355). Before it opens nationally next week, Hilary Duff's romantic teen comedy A CINDERELLA STORY had a round of Advance Screenings which scored it a spot at #7. The Chad Michael Murray accompanied flick scored $233,170 (US $2,395,402). Simultaneously dropping 49% over the weekend was the Wayans Brothers comedy WHITE CHICKS and Ron Pearlman's comic outing HELLBOY. The former has managed $4,901,004 (US $50,348,998) after 6 weeks in release, whilst the latter has pulled in $3,291,521 (US $33,814,456). Going by pretty unnoticed in its Advance Screenings was GARFIELD: THE MOVIE which only previewed on 12 screens. The family comedy, which opens this week, will have a $177,499 (US $1,823,482) headstart. Seeing their cinematic runs come to an end this week are Denzel Washington and Will Smith who had the biggest drops of the week. MAN ON FIRE dipped 62% and after 6 weeks has $5,619,386 (US $57,729,081) to call its own, whilst I, ROBOT, which dropped 57%, has faired much better with $13,117,596 (US $134,759,699) all together after 8 weeks.

THIS WEEK (September 16th): Anne Hathaway looks for a husband; Halle Berry goes S&M Superhero; The world's laziest cat takes to the screen; The Thunderbirds are not so go; and Disney goes to the farm.

• THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT
• [COLOR=dark-blue]CATWOMAN[/COLOR]
• GARFIELD: THE MOVIE
• [COLOR=royal blue]THUNDERBIRDS[/COLOR]
• Home On The Range

IN THE WEEKS TO COME: Shark Tale, Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle, Vanity Fair, Wimbledon

FLASHBACK: This time last year


Pirates set sail on top
(1) PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
(2) FINDING NEMO
(3) LEGALLY BLONDE 2
(4) THE ITALIAN JOB
(5) 28 DAYS LATER

Highest debut - PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN - $5,165,265
Highest gross - FINDING NEMO - $21,103,352

[FilmBuff84]

**RELEASE UPDATE** Opening in advance on Monday, the 20th of September, and adding to the school holiday film rush will be the animated SHARK TALE featuring the voice talents of Will Smith, Robert DeNiro, Angelina Jolie and Renee Zellweger.