DreamWorks' new thriller THE RING, with visual effects by Tippett Studios, Rhythm & Hues and Asylum, debuted at number one this weekend with $15M. The film is a remake of the Japanese hit RINGU, about a cursed videotape that causes all those who watch it to die within seven days. THE RING certainly put a curse on RED DRAGON, which dropped to third after holding the top spot for two weeks. The serial killer thriller, with visual effects by Cinesite, earned $8.8M for a two-week total of $77.8M. JONAH: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE has edged out action comedy THE TUXEDO for eighth place. JONAH added 407 theaters this week, rising 12% from last weekend giving the God loving vegetables $4.1M for $16.2M to date. THE TUXEDO, with visual effects by Sony Imageworks, wound up in ninth place with $4M for a cume of $43.1M. Hovering at the bottom of the top 20, SPIRITED AWAY added another $519, 252 to its total. Averaging $3,438 per screen, the animated fantasy has earned $3.4M so far and is now in 150 theaters nation-wide. Box office information obtained from yahoo.com and boxofficemojo.com.
