'Max Payne' shoots down the competition, but 'Bees' has sting

By Sarah Sluis

Surprising those who predicted yet another videogame adaptation flop, Max Payne topped the box office with a respectable take of $18 million.  I still maintain that the number will drop precipitously next week, when the videogame fans dying the see the adaptation dry up, but the low-budget action film is well on its way to profitability.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua continued its dominance in the family-friendly market, pulling in $11.2 million. 
The big surprise, though, was The Secret Life of Bees, which came in at #3 with an $11.05 million while playing on less than 2,000 screens.  The film made more per screen (and thus played to more packed houses) than #1 release Max Payne.  The semi-limited release strategy will positively impact their returns in weeks to come.  I predict lower-than-average drops in their box-office take.

Below Bees, W. took in $10.5 million, an assertive amount that gives the film's naysayers little ammunition against the film.  The film attracted young, pro-Obama voters.  By debuting while our President is still in office, the biopic has broken from the norm.  Its success at the box office may encourage more biographies to be made while a figure still holds a position of influence and prominence.

Sex Drive debuted at #9 with $3.5 million, coming slightly under the $3.56 million take of competing (and sweeter) teen film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist.  The film's take was disappointing, making me believe the marketing department's release of the first ten minutes of the film may have been an act of desperation--or led teens already online to search for a torrent to illegally download the film.

Returning films Eagle Eye ($7.3 million), Body of Lies ($6.8 million), and Nights in Rodanthe ($2.6 million) all managed to post box-office drops below 50%, with Eagle Eye over $80 million and looking hopefully at $100 million.  Horror picture Quarantine, which debuted at #2 last week, dropped 55% to $6.3 million.

Next week will bring some big changes in the box office lineup.  Six wide releases, including teen draw High School Musical 3 and adult picture Changeling, will pack the box office, opting for the crowded October 24th weekend over October 31st, when the Friday Halloween holiday will undoubtedly draw audiences away from the box office as they seek their trick-or-treats elsewhere.

Full box office results here.