''Barbershop 2'' was a cut above the rest this weekend

Millions of movie fans made an appointment at the ”Barbershop” this weekend, as ”Barbershop 2: Back in Business” topped the box office with an impressive $25.2 million, according to studio estimates.

The sequel, which stars Ice Cube, Eve, Cedric the Entertainer, and Queen Latifah, opened better than the first ”Barbershop” comedy, which premiered with $20.6 million in 2002. Judging from its strong reviews, the sequel should have no problem earning more than the original’s $75.8 million total gross.

The sports drama ”Miracle” also opened well with $19.4 million. The story of the 1980 gold-medal-winning US hockey team starring Kurt Russell and Patricia Clarkson certainly benefitted from its well-attended sneak-preview showings last weekend. Two years ago, the Dennis Quaid baseball drama ”The Rookie” debuted with $16 million on its way to a $75.6 million total gross; ”Miracle” should also end up in that range.

Last week’s top film, the hip-hop drama ”You Got Served,” slipped 52 percent to $7.7 million, while the Ben Stiller/Jennifer Aniston comedy ”Along Came Polly” dropped only 25 percent to $7 million, bringing its total to $75.2 million so far. And Ashton Kutcher’s ”The Butterfly Effect” saw a 30 percent decline to $6.7 million, good enough for fifth place.

Meanwhile, the weekend’s third new wide release, the family action film ”Catch That Kid,” managed only $6 million despite the widest opening of the weekend. Thanks to ”Kid”’s tepid reviews and vague marketing campaign, not too many kids felt like catching it at all.