'Robots' tops US box office

LOS ANGELES - The animated sci-fi film "Robots" won the "metal" of honor at the North American box office at the weekend, with double the ticket sales of its main competitor and last week's box office darling, "The Pacifier."

The family-oriented slapstick comedy, featuring the voices of Mel Brooks, Halle Berry, Robin Williams and Ewan McGregor as gleaming, scrappy, misfit robots, generated US$36.5 million (NZ$49.3m) in sales for the March 11-13 weekend, box office tracker Exhibitor Relations said on Sunday.

Last week's box office star, Disney's "The Pacifier," starring Vin Diesel, slipped into second place with US$18 million.

Opening weekend ticket sales for "Robots" didn't match revenue generated by Fox's 2002 animated blockbuster "Ice Age," at its bow. Both films were released by Fox's Blue Sky Studios and directed by Chris Wedge.

But studio executives were pleased with the "Robots" turnout, especially considering the strength of "The Pacifier," said Bruce Snyder, president of distribution for Fox. "These are absolutely great results," Snyder said.

Meanwhile "The Pacifier," starring Vin Diesel as a Navy SEAL assigned to protect five children from their deceased father's enemies, came in slightly better than expected with US$18 million in its second weekend and a total-to-date of US$54.4 million.

"Be Cool," with John Travolta, fell one notch to No. 3 in its second weekend at the box office, with US$10.3 million and a total-to-date of US$38.4 million.

"Be Cool," from MGM, also topped the weekend's second new release, "Hostage," from Disney's Miramax, stars Bruce Willis as a former hostage negotiator whose family is threatened. The R-rated thriller, which debuted at No. 4, generated an as expected US$9.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Will Smith romantic comedy "Hitch" from Sony Corp.'s Columbia slipped two notches to No. 5 with US$8.7 million, taking its total to US$149.8 million.

"That's great hold, better than expected," said Sony spokesman Steve Elzer. "After five weeks of play the film is still doing phenomenally well. I think it's the appeal of Will Smith, it's a film that appeals not just to men but also to women, and it's also one of the first films where Will is seen in a romantic comedy."

"MILLION DOLLAR BABY" SLIPS

Million Dollar Baby" from Warner Bros. fell one spot to No. 6 from No. 5 last week with US$5 million, taking its total to US$84 million.

"Diary of a Mad Black Woman," a low-budget African-American drama/comedy of a wife's revenge, came in at No. 7 from No. 4 last week with US$5 million. "Diary" has generated a total-to-date of US$44.1 million. It was put out by Lions Gate Films and based on a play written and produced by actor Tyler Perry.

Keanu Reeves' satanic saga "Constantine" from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Ltd. followed in 8th place with US$3.7 million in its fifth weekend. Columbia's Tommy Lee Jones sorority comedy "Man of the House" came in at No. 9 with US$1.8 million.

The horror film "Cursed," from Disney's Dimension unit starring Christina Ricci and Jesse Eisenberg as siblings who develop supernatural powers after being bitten by a werewolf, ended its third weekend at No. 10 with US$1.6 million.

- REUTERS