'Pirates' has a lock on box office

By Scott Bowles, USA TODAY
Goofball comedies were no match for a goofball swashbuckler this weekend as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest again took the top spot at theaters.
The Johnny Depp adventure dropped a respectably low 54% from its record-breaking debut, taking in $62.2 million, according to studio estimates from Nielsen EDI.

BY THE NUMBERS: See the weekend's top 10 films

More important, despite a small dip in overall revenue this weekend (ticket sales for the top 10 movies were down 4% from the same weekend last year), Pirates helped buoy the box office, which is up 5% over last summer.

"Pirates is the kind of movie that gets people excited about other movies," says Paul Dergarabedian of Exhibitor Relations. "A good experience in a theater can beget another."

Pirates sailed easily past the Wayans brothers comedy Little Man and the Owen Wilson movie You, Me and Dupree, which duked it out for second place. If estimates hold, Little Man claimed No. 2 with $21.7 million, and Dupree was third with $21.3 million.

Pirates has captured $258.2 million since its $135.6 million debut and becomes only the third film to surpass $200 million in eight days. It joins Spider-Man 2 and Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

The real battle, though, was for second place and between popular comedy stars: Shawn and Marlon Wayans vs. Wilson. Analysts were split over who would claim victory, and studio executives seemed pleased with a tie.

"We knew this weekend was going to be a horse race," says Rory Bruer, distribution chief for Sony, which released Little Man. "But every time the Wayans brothers make a movie, they deliver."

Nikki Rocco, distribution chief for Universal Pictures, which handled Dupree, says Wilson enjoys a similar appeal. "Watch him being interviewed on a talk show," she says. "He has an easygoing, accessible manner that people love."

Superman Returns was fourth with $11.6 million. The Devil Wears Prada continues strong, claiming fifth and $10.5 million. The Meryl Streep comedy has earned $83.6 million overall.

An Inconvenient Truth, at No. 11, dropped 5% for $1.1 million. The Al Gore film has done $17 million, making it the fourth biggest documentary ever.