Learn mandarin - `Chuck & Larry' has box-office edge

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ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






`Chuck & Larry' has box-office edge


(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-23 09:22





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In this photo provided by Universal Pictures, actors Adam Sandler, left,
Jessica Biel, center, and Kevin James attend a special screening saluting
New York Firefighters of 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry', in New
York, Wednesday, July 18, 2007.[AP]

Two guys named Chuck and Larry edged out a teenager named Harry at the
weekend box office. Adam Sandler and Kevin James' comedy "I Now Pronounce
You Chuck & Larry" overcame bad reviews to debut ahead of "Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix," according to studio estimates Sunday. But
they were close enough that there was a slight chance rankings could
change when final weekend figures come out Monday.

Universal reported that "Chuck & Larry" took in $34.8 million, while
Warner Bros. reported "Order of the Phoenix" at $32.2 million. Other
studios were tracking "Chuck & Larry" in the $33 million range, which
could make the No. 1 movie too close to call.

"I think it'll be decided Monday morning," said Dan Fellman, head of
distribution at Warner Bros.

Universal head of distribution Nikki Rocco said the weekend was no
contest.

"I'm not going to underestimate Adam Sandler and his fan base in the
middle of summer," Rocco said. "We're by far the No. 1 film."

New Line's musical "Hairspray," featuring John Travolta, Michelle
Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah in an adaptation of the Broadway smash, opened
a strong No. 3 with $27.8 million.

Hollywood had a solid weekend no matter which movie ends up No. 1. The
top 12 movies took in $147.6 million, up 3.5 percent from the same
weekend last year, when "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" was
No. 1 with $35.2 million.

To report weekend numbers, studios use actual grosses from Friday and
Saturday and make estimates for Sunday based on past performance of
similar movies. Being the first report on weekend business, the estimates
draw more audience attention than Monday's final figures, so the No. 1
spot Sunday is a coveted position.

"These estimates are in some ways more important than the final Monday
figures," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media
By Numbers. "They're often the first impression and for some people maybe
the only impression they have of the box office for the weekend."

"Chuck & Larry" stars Sandler as a firefighter who poses as a gay partner
for a widower colleague (James) so his pal can maintain life insurance
for his kids.

The movie followed the usual pattern for Sandler comedies: Critics
trashed it but loyal fans turned up.

"The beauty of Adam Sandler is his fan base adores him, and he delivers
on comedy," Universal's Rocco said. "Adam is a star, and I can tell you
we know we're on the way with another $100 million movie for Adam."

"Order of the Phoenix," which debuted at No. 1 the previous weekend,
raised its domestic total to $207.5 million.

Fellman said the movie lost some business this weekend because of the
mania over Saturday's publication of J.K. Rowling's final book in the
fantasy series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

"They wanted to get that book Saturday, lock themselves in the house and
read it, because they didn't want their other friends by Monday telling
them who made it and who didn't," said Fellman of Warner Bros.

"Hairspray" follows the musical adventures of a tubby teen (newcomer
Nikki Blonsky) who sets out to racially integrate a TV dance show in the
1960s. The stage musical on which it is based was in turn adapted from
John Waters' 1988 cult flick.

Women made up just over two-thirds of the "Hairspray" audience, said
David Tuckerman, head of distribution for New Line. The studio hopes good
word of mouth will keep the crowds coming and bring in more men in
subsequent weekends, Tuckerman said.

"We knew getting the guys on opening weekend was going to be difficult.
We knew `Chuck & Larry' would get the guys and we wouldn't," Tuckerman
said.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's sci-fi tale "Sunshine" opened to
big numbers, pulling in $235,477 in 10 theaters. Directed by Danny Boyle
("Trainspotting," "28 Days Later"), the film stars Cillian Murphy and
Michelle Yeoh as members of a space crew trying to re-ignite the dying
sun 50 years from now.

"Sunshine" expands to about 400 theaters Friday.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian
theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be
released Monday.

????1. "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," $34.8 million.

????2. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," $32.2 million.

????3. "Hairspray," $27.8 million.

????4. "Transformers," $20.5 million.

????5. "Ratatouille," $11 million.

????6. "Live Free or Die Hard," $7.3 million.

????7. "License to Wed," $3.8 million.

????8. "1408," $2.6 million.

????9. "Evan Almighty," $2.5 million.

????10. "Knocked Up," $2.3 million.























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