'Saw III': A Rip Tootin' $34.3 Million

[wildwood]

Taking in an estimated $34.3 million, Saw III helped build a huge box office over the weekend -- $89.3 million for the top 12 films -- some 2.4 percent more than the comparable weekend a year ago, when Saw II opened with $31.7 million. Meanwhile Martin Scorsese's The Departed continued to show strong legs as it remained in second place for the third straight week with $9.1 million to lift its total after four weeks to $91.1 million. Disney's The Prestige was close behind in third place with about $9.6 million. Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers continued to disappoint in its second week as it slipped to fourth place with $6.35 million. The film, which reportedly cost $90 million to produce -- and received much critical praise -- has earned only $19.9 million after ten days in release. On the other hand, Sony's animated Open Season continued to exceed expectations, earning $5.5 million in its fifth weekend to bring its gross to about $76.7 million. But Sony's Marie Antoinette appeared to face the guillotine as it wound up with just $3 million. Also cut down in its tracks was the controversial faux documentary Death of a President, which took in only $210,000 in 91 theaters, or $2,310 per theater. However the Dixie Chicks documentary Shut Up & Sing made a solid debut as it took in $50,798 in four theaters, or $12,700 per theater.
The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. Saw III, $34.3 million; 2. The Departed, $9.8 million; 3. The Prestige, $9.6 million; 4. Flags of Our Fathers, $6.35 million; 5. Open Season, $6.1 million; 6. Flicka, $5 million; 7. Man of the Year, $4.7 million; 8. The Grudge 2, $3.3 million; 9. Marie Antoinette, $2.85 million; 10. Running With Scissors, $2.55 million.