Box Office: Dog Tales, Bedtime Stories and a Curious Case

With Christmas just behind them and the New Year approaching, audiences seemed to be in a sentimental mood for the last weekend of 2008, leaving little room for science-fiction films or horror movies at the box office. The top three ticket sellers were MARLEY AND ME, BEDTIME STORIES, and THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Of the three, the second place winner is a comedy-fantasy, and the third place entry is a fantasy-fable, showing that variety of topics covered by films of cinefantastique is wide enough to appeal to viewers even during the holiday season.
Nevertheless, this did not bode well for the weekend’s other newcomer, THE SPIRIT, which made its debut with a dismal showing in 9th place, earning a mere $6.4-million in 2,509 theatres.
Also not bouyed by leftover Christmas cheer were holdover genre titles.
DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, which dropped from fourth to eighth place, earning $7.7-million and raising its three-week North American total to $63.5-million.
TWLIGHT fell from #6 to #12, adding $4.7-million to its impressive six-week total of $167.3-million.
BOLT also fell out of the Top Ten, fetching $3.4-million in seventh place, down from #14 last week. Nevertheless, the somewhat overlooked film lept past the $100-million dollar mark, raising its six-week total to $102.4-million.

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