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'Harry Potter' dominates box office
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-21 19:52
Debuting in second place was the Johnny Cash film biopic "Walk the Line,"
which took in $22.4 million. The film chronicles the early musical career of
Cash, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and also stars Reese Witherspoon as Cash's
lifelong love, June Carter. Phoenix and Witherspoon do their own singing.
Disney's computer-animated film "Chicken Little," which held the top spot
last week, slipped to No. 3 with $14.8 million. Jennifer Anniston's thriller
"Derailed" ranked fourth with $6.5 million and the sci-fi fantasy "Zathura: A
Space Adventure" rounded out the top five with $5.1 million.
Based on the best-selling books by J.K. Rowling, "Goblet of Fire" follows
14-year-old Harry, who unwillingly competes against three older wizards in a
dangerous Triwizard Tournament. The movie features a dramatic face-off between
Harry and Lord Voldemort — He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named — the dark warlock who
killed Harry's parents and who tried to kill him when he was a baby.
Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros., which released "Goblet of
Fire," said the results exceeded the studio's expectations. The third Potter
film, "Prisoner of Azkaban," premiered last year at $93.7 million.
"As the audience has gotten older in time, faithful readers of the Potter
books will remain faithful to the movies," Fellman said.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian
theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be
released Monday.
1. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," $101.4 million
2. "Walk the Line," $22.4 million
3. "Chicken Little," $14.8 million
4. "Derailed," $6.5 million
5. "Zathura," $5.1 million
6. "Jarhead," $4.8 million
7. "Get Rich or Die Tryin," $4.4 million
8. "Saw II," $3.9 million
9. "Legend of Zorro," $2.3 million
10. "Pride and Prejudice," $2.1 million
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Universal Pictures and Focus Features are owned by NBC Universal, a joint
venture of General Electric Co. and Vivendi Universal; Sony Pictures, Sony
Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount and
Paramount Classics are divisions of Viacom Inc.; Disney's parent is The Walt
Disney Co.; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures are owned by News
Corp.; Warner Bros., New Line and Warner Independent are units of Time Warner
Inc.; Lions Gate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
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