The Hangover hangs tight at top of US box office
Story by Jack Foley
R-RATED comedy The Hangover has remained at the top of the US box office for a second week in succession, taking a further $33.4 million in the process.
The Todd Phillips directed movie, starring Bradley Cooper and featuring Mike Tyson, surprisingly beat Pixar’s Up last weekend by performing better than expected on its opening Sunday and claiming top spot at the very last minute.
And it remained on top for a second week over the June 12-14 weekend [2009] despite competition from new openers The Taking of Pelham 123 and new Eddie Murphy comedy Imagine That.
The Hangover‘s 10-day haul now stands at $105.3 million, making it one of the most successful debuts for an R-rated comedy in cinema history.
Disney-Pixar’s 3-D toon Up did continue to dazzle in its third weekend, taking yet another $30.5 million and building its total to $187.2 million – the second-best domestic gross of any summer film this year so far, behind Paramount’s Star Trek.
Tony Scott’s Pelham remake, starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, also opened strong despite having to settle for third spot. The action-drama and remake grossed $25 million and was deemed a success for the adult market it was catering for.
Eddie Murphy’s new family comedy disappointed, however, as Imagine That came in below expectations with just $5.7 million, to place sixth.
Imagine That marked Murphy’s first movie since last summer’s Meet Dave, which also misfired with a $5.4 million opening.
The Hangover‘s success was also the first time that a summer movie had been able to hang onto the top spot for two consecutive weeks.
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