Millions of movie fans made an appointment at the ''Barbershop'' this weekend, as ''Barbershop 2: Back in Business'' topped the box office with an impressive $25.2 million, according to studio estimates.
The sequel, which stars Ice Cube, Eve, Cedric the Entertainer, and Queen Latifah, opened better than the first ''Barbershop'' comedy, which premiered with $20.6 million in 2002. Judging from its strong reviews, the sequel should have no problem earning more than the original's $75.8 million total gross.
The sports drama ''Miracle'' also opened well with $19.4 million. The story of the 1980 gold-medal-winning US hockey team starring Kurt Russell and Patricia Clarkson certainly benefitted from its well-attended sneak-preview showings last weekend. Two years ago, the Dennis Quaid baseball drama ''The Rookie'' debuted with $16 million on its way to a $75.6 million total gross; ''Miracle'' should also end up in that range.
Last week's top film, the hip-hop drama ''You Got Served,'' slipped 52 percent to $7.7 million, while the Ben Stiller/Jennifer Aniston comedy ''Along Came Polly'' dropped only 25 percent to $7 million, bringing its total to $75.2 million so far. And Ashton Kutcher's ''The Butterfly Effect'' saw a 30 percent decline to $6.7 million, good enough for fifth place.
Meanwhile, the weekend's third new wide release, the family action film ''Catch That Kid,'' managed only $6 million despite the widest opening of the weekend. Thanks to ''Kid'''s tepid reviews and vague marketing campaign, not too many kids felt like catching it at all.
