RICKY BOBBY REVS UP BOX OFFICE `TALLADEGA NIGHTS' RACES TO HISTORY'S THIRD-BIGGEST AUGUST OPENING.

Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

With Will Ferrell behind the wheel, ``Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby'' left its multiplex competition in the dust with the third-biggest August opening in history, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

The NASCAR-themed comedy grossed $47 million during its first weekend victory lap, a better-than-expected finish that represented a personal best for Ferrell and succeeded in keeping the movie business on an impressive roll, with business exceeding 2005 levels in 18 of the last 20 weekends, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co.

```Talladega Nights' had everything going for it,'' said Exhibitor Relations President Paul Dergarbedian. ``There was a natural built-in appeal that attracted the NASCAR audience. Everything came together for this movie.''

The movie also gave Sony Pictures Entertainment its eighth No. 1 opening of 2006 -- more than any other studio has had -- and became the ninth Sony release to open at $20 million or more this year.

``We will pass the $1 billion mark this week and will be No. 1 in (studio) market share before the weekend,'' said Rory Bruer, the studio's president of distribution.

Bruer credited Ferrell's enthusiastic promotion of the film, including an appearance on ``Larry King Live'' where he appeared completely in character.

``He was everywhere,'' Bruer said. ``We got everyone: old, young, red, blue -- you name it. Everybody came.''

Finishing solidly in second place in the weekend's box office race was the CG-animated film ``Barnyard,'' released by Paramount Pictures. The movie grossed an estimated $16 million in its first three days.

``We're thrilled,'' said Don Harris, Paramount's executive vice president of distribution. ``There's really nothing else of consequence coming out in the animated world, so we should have the whole month of August to continue to play.''

Disney's ``Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'' showed continuing resilience, taking third place, one spot down from last weekend. ``Pirates'' made an estimated $11 million in its fifth weekend and has grossed $379.8 million to date, making it the year's biggest blockbuster.

Last weekend's top-grossing movie, ``Miami Vice,'' lacked the kind of staying power displayed by ``Pirates.'' The Universal Pictures release, starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx and directed by Michael Mann, suffered a steep 62 percent drop in ticket sales as it took in an estimated $9.7 million for a two-week total of $45.7 million.

Rounding out the top five was the new release ``The Descent,'' a horror film from Lionsgate that took in an estimated $8.8 million. The movie about women in distress in a cave drew an audience that was 54 percent female and 64 percent under 25.

``It's another success for us in this horror genre,'' said Steve Rothenberg, president of distribution for Lionsgate. ``Based on exit polls, we expect good word of mouth on the film going into Week 2.''

The weekend's other new release, ``The Night Listener'' from Miramax Films, debuted in 10th. The psychological thriller starring Robin Williams took in $3.6 million.

In limited release, Focus Features expanded the run of the acclaimed comedy ``Little Miss Sunshine'' to 58 locations, up from just seven last week, and scored the highest per-screen average -- $25,169 -- of any film in release. The movie, which has grossed $2.2 million so far, will go into wide release Aug. 18 with plenty of buzz.

Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics' ``Quinceanera'' opened in just eight locations and earned $96,900.

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com

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TOP MOVIES

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Box Office Mojo. Final figures will be released today.

1. ``Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,'' $47 million.

2. ``Barnyard: The Original Party Animals,'' $16 million.

3. ``Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest,'' $11 million.

4. ``Miami Vice,'' $9.7 million.

5. ``The Descent,'' $8.8 million.

6. ``John Tucker Must Die,'' $6.05 million.

7. ``Monster House,'' $6 million.

8. ``The Ant Bully,'' $3.9 million.

9. ``You, Me and Dupree,'' $3.6 million.

10. ``The Night Listener,'' $3.6 million.

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TOP MOVIES (see text)