Winning its second week, Paramount's TROPIC THUNDER earned another $16.27 million (actuals) at the box office (week ending August 24), with a two-week gross of $65.84M. The Ben Stiller written/directed/acted action-comedy's vfx were by CIS Vancouver, CIS Hollywood and CIS London, Hammerhead Productions, Custom Film Effects and Proof.
Sony's comedy THE HOUSE BUNNY opened in second with $14.53M, respectable for a disavowed Playboy Bunny (Anna Faris) who becomes a sorority mother.
Jason Statham's prison racing actioner DEATH RACE opened in third with $12.62M for Universal (vfx by Anibrain, Gentle Giant Studios, Intrigue, Invisible Pictures, Mr. X, Rodeo FX and Tinsley Transfers).
Fourth place went to Warner Bros.' THE DARK KNIGHT (vfx from Double Negative, BUF, Gentle Giant Studios and New Deal Studios), finally dropping after many weeks of domination. In its sixth week in release, it earned $10.54M and is creeping toward the $500M mark with a total gross of $489.42M. It's expected to hit that milestone over the extended Labor Day weekend next week.
The animated STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (Warner Bros.) came in fifth with $5.66M and $24.999M in two weeks.
Stoner action-comedy PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (Sony) placed sixth with $5.45M and has earned $73.78M in three weeks.
Fox's reflection horror pic MIRRORS (vfx from & Company, Agog Special Effects, Event Horizon, K.N.B. Effects Group, LOOK! Effects and Rez-Illusion) came in seventh with $5.01M and just more than $20M in two weeks in release.
Universal's MAMMA MIA! (vfx from Framestore) did $4.31M for eighth place and has earned $124.47M in six weeks in release.
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR (Universal, vfx from Digital Domain, Gentle Giant Studios, Giant Studios, CIS Hollywood, CIS London, Rhythm and Hues and Special Effects Atlantic) got $4.12M for ninth place and has earned a cume of $93.92M over four weeks.
Tenth place went to family-friendly newcomer THE LONGSHOTS (MGM) about the first girl who played in the Pop Warner football tournament, with $4.08M.
And in animation, Summit Ent.'s FLY ME TO THE MOON 3-D earned $1.42M for 16th place and $4.17M in two weeks. Disney-Pixar's WALL-E did $965,559 for a nine-week cume of $216.25M. KUNG FU PANDA (DreamWorks) got $579,281 and $212,69M over 12 weeks. Fox's SPACE CHIMPS did $404,046 and $28.38M in six weeks.
Box office information from BoxOfficeMojo.com.
