One of the scenes from Eli Roth's Hostel. - CONTRIBUTED
LOS ANGELES, (Reuters):
NOTHING LIKE a torture movie to shake off festive spirits. The low-budget horror film Hostel was the top choice at the weekend box office in North America, selling US$20.1 million worth of tickets in its first three days, according to studio estimates issued on Sunday. Its surprisingly strong arrival ended the four-week duel for supremacy between King Kong and last weekend's champion, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Produced for less than US$5 million and purportedly inspired by true events, Hostel revolves around hapless backpackers who are sliced and diced at a Slovakian torture chamber by paying customers. It was written and directed by Eli Roth, who made the 2002 thriller Cabin Fever.
Hostel distributor Lionsgate had hoped it would open in the mid-teen millions, said Steve Rothenberg, president of distribution at the Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. unit.
MALE-DOMINATED AUDIENCE
Young males dominated the audience for the R-rated film, whose raw marketing campaign was reminiscent of Lionsgate's recent hit thriller Saw II, which ended up with US$87 million.
Hostel got an additional boost by being marketed as a Quentin Tarantino presentation, since the Pulp Fiction director enthusiastically supported Roth's concept from the script stage, and came on board as an executive producer. Anecdotal reports suggested some moviegoers thought Tarantino directed the film, said Rothenberg.
Hostel was playing in 2,195 theatres, while the other movies in the top-five were in more than 3,100 each.
'GRANDMA'S BOY' BOMBS
Last weekend's champion, Walt Disney Pictures' The Chronicles of Narnia, slipped to number two with US$15.4 million. Director Andrew Adamson's C.S. Lewis adaptation has earned US$247.6 million after five weekends.
Universal Pictures' King Kong fell one place to No. 3 with US$12.5 million, taking the total for Peter Jackson's big ape remake to US$192.5 million after four weekends.
Two newcomers failed to make the top-10, led by Grandma's Boy, an 'intergenerational' romantic comedy from Adam Sandler's production company. The 20th Century Fox release opened at number 13 with just US$2.9 million. Additionally, the video game-inspired BloodRayne earned about $1 million for its independent distributor, Romar Entertainment, according to a rival studio.
Two films worked their way up the top 10 as they went into wider release. Steven Spielberg's revenge thriller Munich jumped four places to number six with US$7.5 million. The film, loosely based on events that transpired after the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics, has earned US$25.2 million after three weekends.
Director Ang Lee's gay-cowboy romance Brokeback Mountain, which has piled up awards-season accolades, returned to the top-10 by rising four places to number nine with US$5.8 million from 483 theatres. After five weekends, the Focus Features release has earned US$22.5 million. It was was in 269 theatres last weekend.
Rounding out the top-five, each down one place, were the Jim Carrey comedy Fun with Dick & Jane at number four with US$12.2 million, and Fox's Steve Martin romp Cheaper By the Dozen 2 at number five with US$8.3 million.
Box office listings
1 Hostel ..... US$20.1 million
2 The Chronicles of Narnia .. US$15.4 million
3 King Kong .. US$12.5 million
4 Fun with Dick & Jane ...... US$12.2 million
5 Cheaper by the Dozen 2 .... US$ 8.3 million
6 Munich ..... US$ 7.5 million
7 Memoirs of a Geisha ....... US$ 6.0 million
8 Rumor Has It .............. US$ 5.9 million
9 Brokeback Mountain ........ US$ 5.8 million
10 The Family Stone .......... US$ 4.6 million.
