Audiences just keep digging “Treasure” – making “National Treasure” the No. 1 movie for the third straight weekend.
The red-hot Disney flick, starring Nicolas Cage as a fortune hunter on the trail of a jackpot hidden by the Founding Fathers, earned $17.1 million, averaging $5,286 per screen in 3,243 theaters.
That brings the 17-day total for the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced actioner to $110.2 million.
“For a release in its third weekend, this is a very strong performance,” analyst David Mumpower said on the Box Office Prophets Web site, which tracks ticket sales.
But “Treasure’s” reign is expected to end with this week’s debut of the star-studded heist sequel “Ocean’s Twelve,” with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Andy Garcia.
“Christmas With the Kranks” kept spreading the holiday cheer for Sony, scoring the No. 2 spot with $11.7 million, for a total of $45.5 million.
It was followed by “The Polar Express,” with $11 million, for a $96.4 million total; “The Incredibles,” with $9.2 million, for a $226 million total; and “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” with $7.8 million, for a $68.4 million total.
The weekend’s big new film, “Closer,” Mike Nichols’ sexually charged drama with Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law and Natalie Portman, opened strongly in narrow release at No. 6, taking in $7.7 million.
Playing in just 476 theaters, “Closer” had an impressive average of $16,176 per screen – a sign that it will do boffo box office as it expands to more screens.
“Alexander” the critically panned $150 million epic, grossed only $4.7 million. With Post Wire Services (p. 3 Metro)
TREASURE TROVE
Box-office weekend receipts:
1. “National Treasure” $17.1 million
2. “Christmas With the Kranks”$11.7M
3. “The Polar Express” $11M
4. “The Incredibles”$9.2M
5. “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” $7.8M