Big Momma (Martin Lawrence) reacts to the considerable charms of an undressed woman in the movie 'Big Momma's House 2'. - CONTRIBUTED
LOS ANGELES (AP):
U.S. MOVIEGOERS embraced a supersize momma in a wig and a governess who tames an unruly brood as family-friendly films dominated the weekend box office.
Twentieth Century Fox's Big Momma's House 2, with $28 million in estimated ticket sales, turned in the second-best January opening ever, trailing only the $35.9 million scored by the 1997 release of a special edition of Star Wars, according to Exhibitor Relations, which tracks box-office results.
LIGHTHEARTED FILMS
As in the original Big Momma's House, Martin Lawrence layers on the bulges and dons billowy, floral-print dresses, along with a wig. It was followed by another new release, Universal Pictures' Nanny McPhee starring Emma Thompson, with $14.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates.
"Audiences are obviously in the mood for some lighthearted films," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations. A week after the vampire thriller "Underworld: Evolution" led the pack, the marketplace is proving "adaptable to all these films."
Bruce Snyder, president of domestic distribution for Twentieth Century Fox, said the popularity of its Big Momma films rests with Lawrence's comic appeal.
PURE AND SIMPLE CHARACTER
"People like the Big Momma character, pure and simple. She's funny, she's sassy, but it's a guy underneath there," Snyder said.
Sony's Underworld: Evolution tumbled to the third spot, with $11.1 million in sales, a 59 per cent decline from its strong first week.
The fourth spot was claimed by the new release Annapolis, one of three Disney films in the top 10. The story of a quick-fisted undergraduate, shot on location at the U.S. Naval Academy, pulled in $7.7 million.
Hoodwinked, an animated update of the Little Red Riding Hood story from the Weinstein Co., fell to the fifth spot, off 29 per cent from the previous week, with $7.4 million in sales.
Here are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.
Box office top ten
1. Big Momma's House 2, Twentieth Century Fox, $28 million (euro 23 million).
2. Nanny McPhee, Universal, $14.1 million (euro 11.6 million).
3. Underworld: Evolution, Sony, $11.1 million (euro 9.1 million).
4. Annapolis, Disney, $7.7 million (euro 6.3 million).
5. Hoodwinked, Weinstein Co., $7.4 million (euro 26.1 million).
6. Brokeback Mountain, Focus, $6.3 million (euro 5.2 million).
7. Glory Road, Disney, $5.2 million (euro 4.3 million).
8. Last Holiday, Paramount, $4.8 million (euro 3.9 million).
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Disney, $4.4 million (euro 3.6 million).
10. The Matador, Weinstein Co., $3.8 million (euro 3.1 million).
