Weekend Box Office >> BATMAN CONTINUES

BATMAN BEGINS surprised industry insiders and exceeded all expectations by holding its place in the #1 slot this weekend. Audience drop-off for the film was only 45%, which is extremely small for a movie of this type. After 12 days in release BATMAN has earned $121.7 million against a $150 million budget.

The newcomers this weekend didn’t fare as well. BEWITCHED snagged second place with $20.2 million. HERBIE: FULLY LOADED landed in fourth place with $12.8 million. GEORGE A. ROMERO’S LAND OF THE DEAD rounded out the top 5 with $10.8 million.

NEXT WEEKEND: WAR OF THE WORLDS!

1. Batman Begins ... $26.8 Million
2. Bewitched ... $20.2 Million
3. Mr. and Mrs. Smith ... $16.8 Million
4. Herbie: Fully Loaded ... $12.8 Million
5. Land of the Dead ... $10.2 Million
6. Madagascar ... $7.3 Million
7. Star Wars Episode III ... $6.3 Million
8. The Longest Yard ... $5.5 Million
9. Shark Boy & Lava Girl ... $3.4 Million
10. Cinderella Man ... $3.3 Million