Disney's "Enchanted" hit all the right notes with audiences this holiday weekend. It earned $35M Fri-Sun. to win the box-office race. The musical, which gently spoofs the Mouse House's legendary animated sing-songs, has earned just over $50M since its debut on Wed. Strong numbers, and good enough to give the box-office experts optimism that Hollywood's 'prestige' season could lure moviegoers back to theaters in droves after a lackluster Fall. Considering the great reviews the movie received, it's not a big surprise the family-friendly "Enchanted" took top honors during the Thanksgiving weekend, one of the biggest movie weeks of the year and one that's traditionally big for families looking to get out of the house.
[Watch Alison & Jeffrey's review after the jump]
"This Christmas" surprised many by finishing No. 2 in the box office race. Made for just $13M, the Screen Gems ensemble holiday movie (starring Delroy Lindo, Regina King and Mekhi Phifer among others) earned $18.6M during the weekend, and $27.1M since Wed. It also had the best per-screen average of any movie in the Top 10, $10,010 per theater.
Last week's top draw "Beowulf" dropped to third place with $16.2M, and a $56M total over two weeks. Only a 41% drop, which is better than usual for a major release so it appears the Robert Zemeckis motion-capture animation epic may stick around for awhile.
The video game adaptation "Hitman" survived a critical drubbing to score a $13M opening weekend, and a $21M haul since Wed. "Bee Movie" keeps attracting steady business, earning $12M in its fourth week to finish in fifth place.
As for the other two big releases, "August Rush" earned $9.4M to land in seventh place. "The Mist" earned $9M to place ninth.
Oh, and "No Country for Old Men" continues its stellar limited release run by earning $8.1M in just 860 theaters. It has now earned $16.6M as strong word-of-mouth keeps attracting more people to the Coen Brothers' latest project.