Star Wars still leading US box office

LOS ANGELES - A trio of movies, led once again by the final "Star Wars" installment, ruled the North American box office during the US Memorial Day holiday weekend, leaving everything else in a galaxy far, far away. 

"Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" earned US$70.8 million ($99.3 million) for the four days beginning Friday.  

It was followed by two promising new releases - the animal cartoon "Madagascar" with US$61 million, and the Adam Sandler prison football remake "The Longest Yard" with US$60 million.  

Two holdover comedies pairing Oscar-winning veterans with younger stars rounded out the top five, each falling two places: "Monster-in-Law," starring Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez, with US$11.1 million; and "Kicking & Screaming," starring Robert Duvall and Will Ferrell, with US$6.6 million.  

Overall sales continued their downward trajectory for a 14th consecutive weekend, when compared with the year-ago period.  

Industry observers blame the drought on such factors as a paucity of durable adult-targeted fare, rising ticket prices and competition from DVDs.  

Sales this weekend totaled US$225 million, down 5.5 per cent from last year's record haul, according to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations.  

"Revenge of the Sith" has earned US$271.2 million after 12 days, well ahead of its two most recent predecessors, 2002's "Attack of the Clones" and 1999's "The Phantom Menace," which were each around US$200 million at the same time.  

The global total for "Sith" stood at US$504.4 million after 11 days.  

- REUTERS