Cinefantastique Online

The last few weeks have been a bumpy ride at the box for science-fiction, fantasy, and horror titles. the new Bond film QUANTUM OF SOLACE opened in first place three weeks ago with $67-million, then was quickly eclipsed a week later by TWILIGHT’s $69-million debut. Disney’s computer animated adventure-comedy BOLT, opening on the same day as TWLIGHT, had to settle for third place behind the teenage vampires and 007, earning only $26-million.

Last week, however, BOLT shoulder stronger than expected legs: While TWLIGHT set faster than the fading sun with $26.3-million, droppng into third place, BOLT edged up into second place; its $26.6-million sophomore session was actually bigger than its debut earnings from the week before. Meanwhile, SOLACE had to settle for fourth place with $18.8-million.

Now this weekend sees TWLIGHT edging back up to second place with $13.2-million (for a three-week total of $138.6-million), while BOLT has descended back into third place with $9.69-million (for a totle of $79.9-million in three weeks). James Bond has dropped from fourth to fifth place with $6.6-million, raising its total to $151-million, but he can take SOLACE in the fact that his latest film is doing much better overseas than in the U.S.

On top of all this, the non-genre FOUR CHRISTMASES managed to remain at #1, having made its debut there last week, even though this weekend’s gross was only $18.2-million. The “big” newcomer in the playing field, Lionsgate’s THE PUNISHER: WAR ZONE, made a dreary debut at #8 with a meagre $4-million – hardly the kind of results that would scare off competition.

One images Hollywood collectively kicking itself. Clearly there was room in the marketplace to open at least one big film this weekend, instead of back so many titles for Christmas Day.