SANDLER UP TO BANKABLE REPUTATION AS EXPECTED, `CLICK' DEBUTS IN TOP PLACE AT BOX OFFICE.

Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

Just days before expected blockbuster ``Superman Returns'' flies into theaters, Adam Sandler proved to be a summer box office superhero himself with a $40 million debut for his latest comedy, ``Click,'' according to studio estimates released Sunday.

``Click'' fast-forwarded past ``Cars'' to become the No. 1 movie in the marketplace and the eighth Sandler film to open in the top weekend spot.

``Adam Sandler has such a great track record; he's money in the bank,'' said box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Co. ``He's as consistent as any box office star out there.''

``Click,'' about a workaholic architect (Sandler) who finds a universal remote control that gives him the ability to rewind and fast-forward parts of his life, marks the seventh No. 1 opener for Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2006.

Rory Bruer, Sony's president of domestic distribution, is confident the movie will continue to perform strongly even against ``Superman,'' which will open Wednesday, and the sequel to ``The Pirates of the Caribbean,'' which will open next week.

``The story has such broad appeal to both adults as well as families that I think you will see a strong hold,'' Bruer said. ``Even when surrounded by huge films, Adam's movies continue to perform.''

``Click'' helped the movie industry stretch a streak to six weekends -- and 13 out of the last 14 -- in which box office revenues were higher than on the same weekend last year.

``At this point last year, we were 18 consecutive weekends into a slump, so it's really important that we've had such a strong run,'' Dergarabedian said. ``But as a reality check, this is where we should be, because last year was so bad that anything less than beating last year would be a really dismal situation.''

Although ``Cars'' dropped to second place after two weekends on top, the latest Pixar Animation title still managed an estimated $22.5 million in ticket sales, down just 33 percent from the weekend before. ``Cars'' has grossed a solid $155.9 million so far and can now safely be considered the seventh straight hit delivered by Pixar, purchased earlier this year by The Walt Disney Co.

The Jack Black comedy ``Nacho Libre'' finished third. Released by Paramount Pictures, ``Nacho'' grossed an estimated $12.1 million, a 57 percent drop in business, and has grossed $52.6 million in 10 days.

Debuting in fourth was the crime-thriller ``Waist Deep,'' which took in an estimated $9.5 million. The performance by the Rogue Pictures release is especially impressive since the film is playing in just over 1,000 theaters, far fewer than any other film in the top 10.

Still in limited release, the Al Gore documentary ``An Inconvenient Truth'' expanded to 514 locations and grossed an estimated $1.9 million. Released by Paramount Vantage, the film has taken in $9.5 million to date.

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 Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released today.

1. ``Click,'' $40 million.

2. ``Cars,'' $22.5 million.

3. ``Nacho Libre,'' $12.1 million.

4. ``Waist Deep,'' $9.5 million.

5. ``The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,'' $9.2 million.

6. ``The Lake House,'' $8.3 million.

7. ``The Break-Up,'' $6.1 million.

8. ``Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties,'' $4.75 million.

9. ``X-Men: The Last Stand,'' $4.4 million.

10. ``The Da Vinci Code,'' $4 million.

-- Associated Press 

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