The new Harry Potter got beat—by what? Natalie Portman's Oscar vehicle rolled out—did it stall? And Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor finally got it on—was it worth the wait?
The box-office results:
Tangled overcame Deathly Hallows Part 1, and a No. 2 Thanksgiving debut, to win the weekend with an estimated $21.5 million.
The Disney-produced 3-D take on Rapunzel is just the second film this year, after How to Train Your Dragon, to go No. 1 after starting out of the top spot, Exhibitor Relations reminded us.
The latest Harry Potter settled for $16.7 million, and second place. Its reign at No. 1 lasted two weeks, so, yes, that's over, but it's still conjuring huge numbers, so, no, it's not over. Worldwide, the film has grossed more than $620 million in just 17 days.
Elsewhere, Portman's demented dance movie, Black Swan ($1.4 million), went crazy in limited release, nearly cracking the Top 10 despite showing at only 18 theaters. All in all, a great start, and a fine way to keep your name, and your movie, in the Oscar discussion.
Carrey's and McGregor's long-delayed I Love You, Phillip Morris did OK at six theaters ($113,000). In another weekend, its per-screen average might have impressed, but not in a weekend of Black Swan and The King's Speech ($326,000 at six theaters).
The only new major release, The Warrior's Way, wasn't so major: The Kate Bosworth ninja movie—make that, the last Kate Bosworth ninja movie—opened in ninth place with just $3.1 million.
Morning Glory ($1.8 million; $29.1 million overall) dropped out of the Top 10 way shy of matching its reported $40 million budget.
As for the weekend's burning question: Burlesque—did it bomb yet?
Well, in its second weekend, the Cher-Christina Aguilera flick (third place, $6.1 million) actually held better than Showgirls , and even the new Harry Potter. On the downside, it's still not quite half-way home to its reported $55 million budget, at least domestically, where it stands at about $27 million.
Here's a complete look at the weekend's top-grossing films, per Friday-Sunday estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo:
1. Tangled, $21.5 million
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, $16.7 million
3. Burlesque, $6.1 million (tie)
3. Unstoppable, $6.1 million (tie)
5. Love and Other Drugs, $5.7 million
6. Megamind, $5 million
7. Due Date, $4.2 million
8. Faster, $3.8 million
9. The Warrior's Way, $3.1 million
10. The Next Three Days, $2.7 million
(Originally published Dec. 5, 2010, at 11:03 a.m. PT)