`PIRATES' CONTINUES TO PLUNDER RECORDS FILM SAILING CLOSER TO TOP '06 GROSS.Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ Staff Writer The box office riches have continued to pile up for ``The Pirates of the Caribbean This article is about the franchise. For other, more specific uses, see Pirates of the Caribbean (disambiguation). For real pirates, see Piracy in the Caribbean. Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man's Chest'' this week to such a degree that the megahit meg·a·hit n. A product or event, such as a movie or concert, that is exceedingly successful. Noun 1. megahit - an unusually successful hit with widespread popularity and huge sales (especially a movie or play or recording is already poised to become 2006's highest-grossing film over this weekend. With a record six-day take of $183.7 million as of Wednesday, ``Pirates'' should have no trouble surpassing the $231.7 million earned this summer by ``X-Men: The Last Stand.'' ``It's a real crowd-pleaser, not just a movie opening well based on hype and now fizzling away,'' said Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru.com. ``The weekday numbers have been terrific.'' Since its historic three-day opening of $135 million, the Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Pictures release has continued to amass box office treasure, setting records for biggest nonholiday Monday ($18 million), biggest Tuesday ever ($15.7 million) and second-biggest five-day total ($169.5 million). Last week, it set the opening-day record ($55.5 million), as well as records for biggest single day, first film to cross $100 million in two days, and second-biggest Saturday gross of all time. The action-adventure yarn starring Johnny Depp John Christopher Depp II[1] (born June 9 1963) is an American actor. Biography Early life Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, to John Christopher Depp Sr., a city engineer, and Betty Sue (Wells), a waitress. , Orlando Bloom Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom[1] (born 13 January 1977) is an English actor. He had his break-through role in the early 2000s as the elf-prince Legolas in The Lord of the Rings[2] and blacksmith Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean and Keira Knightley is a sequel to 2003's ``Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl The Black Pearl, originally HEIC Wicked Wench, is a fictional ship in , , and . The Black Pearl is easily recognised by her distinctive black hull and sails. This turns out to be an advantage in more than one way. ,'' which grossed $305 million domestically. Pandya said that even if the second-weekend grosses drop by more than 50 percent, ``Pirates'' could still take in $65 million or more, which would make it one of the top-three movies for second-weekend receipts. ``Most movies would kill to have that for an opening weekend,'' Pandya said. Two summers ago, ``Shrek 2'' had the biggest second-weekend take on record, $72.2 million, with 2002's ``Spider-Man'' close behind at $71.4 million. Box office analyst Robert Bucksbaum, president of ReelSource Inc., predicts ``Pirates'' will have a domestic gross north of $350 million, but he doesn't believe any other film will ever be able to challenge what all-time leader ``Titanic'' took in: just over $600 million. ``I think those days are gone,'' Bucksbaum said. ```Titanic' was able to perform week after week for 26 weeks in the top 10. That said, `Pirates' is still on its way to significant numbers.'' Competing for second place are two new comedies ``You, Me and Dupree,'' starring Owen Wilson Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an American actor and writer. Wilson was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the screenplay of The Royal Tenenbaums, but he is perhaps best known for his successful comedic roles such as John Beckwith in , Matt Dillon
Matthew Raymond "Matt" Dillon (born February 18, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. and Kate Hudson; and ``Little Man,'' starring Marlon and Shawn Wayans Shawn Wayans (SW1) (born January 19, 1971 in New York City, New York) is an American actor and comedian who starred in In Living Color and The Wayans Bros. He is the brother of Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, and Kim Wayans. . ``I think both will be fighting over the No. 2 spot,'' Pandya said. ```Dupree' is on 600 more screens, but the Wayanses have a loyal African-American audience that always come out for their films. ``Both are mindless summer comedies and should have very strong averages.'' One of the big questions of the weekend will be whether ``Superman Returns'' can recover any business after taking a drubbing from ``Pirates'' last weekend. The Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) .' revival of the 1970s and '80s franchise had grossed $149.6 domestically as of Wednesday. Bucksbaum isn't optimistic that ``Superman'' can fly much higher. ``You gotta make it on that opening weekend in the summer because there is a huge blockbuster coming out the next week,'' he said. greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3758 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) From left, Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp and Mackenzie Crook in a scene from ``Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest,'' which has grossed a record $183.7 million as of Wednesday. Peter Mountain/Disney Enterprises |
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