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''Underworld: Evolution'' debuts at No. 1 | 131217__underbor_l
GUNS BLAZING ''Underworld: Evolution'' made almost twice as much as the No. 2 movie
By Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger, a senior writer at EW, also reports on box office and other movie- related matters on NBC's ''Today''

The combination of sci-fi action and a rubber-clad Kate Beckinsale proved mighty alluring for teenage guys around the country, as Underworld: Evolution easily scored the top spot at the box office with $27.6 million, according to studio estimates.

That figure handily beat the $21.8 million opening weekend of Underworld in September 2003 and was more than double its nearest competitor, Hoodwinked, which slipped just 11 percent (thanks to an increased theater count) to $11.1 million in its second weekend. Hoodwinked's total now stands at $29.3 million.

Meanwhile, Glory Road and Last Holiday each held on nicely, each grossing another $9.1 million. For Glory it was a drop of 33 percent, while Holiday slipped only 29 percent. And Brokeback Mountain finally crossed the 1,000 theater mark, adding another $7.8 million to its take, which now stands at a very impressive $42.1 million.

But the news wasn't so good for Colin Farrell's drama The New World, which earned only $4.3 million in its first weekend of wide release. Perhaps Farrell's lawyers should get some lawsuits going on that movie to raise its profile a bit.


Posted Jan 22, 2006 | Order Article Reprints