LOS ANGELES (Oct. 19) - Moviegoers elected a "W," but it was Mark Wahlberg, not George W. Bush. Wahlberg's action flick "Max Payne" debuted with $18 million to outdo Oliver Stone's film biography of George W. Bush, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Stone's "W." actually ran fourth, opening with $10.6 million to finish behind the family comedy "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (No. 2 with $11.2 million) and the chick flick "The Secret Life of Bees" (No. 3 with $11.1 million).
"For me, an Oliver Stone film about George Bush doesn't necessarily scream big box office," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. "A film like this is very tough to gauge, but this is exactly what I thought it would do."
Lionsgate's "W.," starring Josh Brolin as Bush, came in well behind the $18.7 million debut of Stone's last movie, 2006's Sept. 11 saga "World Trade Center." That movie opened in nearly 3,000 theaters, about 900 more than "W.," however.
Playing in 2,030 cinemas, "W." averaged a solid but unremarkable $5,197 a theater, compared with a $6,334 average for "World Trade Center." "W." was shot on a modest budget of $25 million.
The film had been on political junkies' radar since Stone put "W." on the fast track less than a year ago so he could have it out before the November election. Stone started shooting in May, his five-month turnaround time remarkably short by Hollywood standards, where major movies can take a year or more.
1. 'W.' Oliver Stone's portrait of our 43rd president is a lot of things -- well-written and funny, with an impeccable performance by Josh Brolin -- but one thing it isn't is mudslinging propaganda that takes potshots at Dubya. In fact, Bush comes off as surprisingly sympathetic -- a good man whose constant need to prove that he's been "misunderestimated" gets him in way over his head. -- Tom DiChiara
2. 'Happy-Go-Lucky' Mike Leigh's film about a primary school teacher who's relentlessly chipper, regardless of what's thrown at her (class bully, deranged driving instructor, judgmental sister), seems frothy and innocuous -- at first. But the movie stays with you, like a childhood memory or like Sally Hawkins' brilliant performance, as shimmering and multi-faceted as happiness itself. -- Patricia Chui
3. 'The Express' This is the type of movie where you know exactly what you're getting -- it is an inspirational sports drama, after all. But 'The Express,' the story of the first black Heisman trophy winner, Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), and his tough-love coach (Dennis Quaid) is a cut above the fray. And plot-wise, it's like 'Remember the Titans' meets 'Brian's Song,' so yes, grown men will weep. -- Kevin Polowy
4. 'Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist' It's cheesier and more teen-targeted than movies like 'Juno' and 'Superbad,' but this charming, 90-minute meet-cute will make you fall in love with stars Michael Cera (again) and Kat Dennings. It's also a nifty love letter to the New York City music scene, as its young couple moves from one venue to the next searching for a surprise show by their favorite band. -- Kevin Polowy
5. 'Rachel Getting Married' Playing a deeply troubled drug addict sprung from rehab for her sister's wedding, Anne Hathaway bursts out of her Disney 'Princess' cocoon and morphs into a mature, complex Oscar-caliber actress right before our eyes. Severe emotional damage has never been so attractive. -- Tom DiChiara
6. 'Sex Drive' It's not your run-of-the-mill teen sex road-trip romp. The supporting cast -- James Marsden as the big bro from hell, Seth Green as a sardonic Amish guy, '30 Rock' hottie Katrina Bowden as internet seductress Ms. Tasty, Michael Cera's webisode co-star Clark Duke as the best friend who encourages his pal to lose his virginity -- makes it worth making time for. -- Angie Argabrite
7. 'Body of Lies' With the Oscar pedigree of director Ridley Scott, scribe William Monahan and stars Leo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, 'Lies' promised to be the grittiest, smartest movie yet to tackle the situation in the Middle East. And it may be, but that's not saying much. It's a superbly acted, very entertaining but ultimately conventional thriller that's more popcorn flick than Oscar bait. -- Tom DiChiara
8. 'Flash of Genius' A movie about the man who invented the intermittent windshield wiper doesn't sound like Oscar bait or a crowd pleaser -- but somehow it's both. And that's due to Greg Kinnear's sometimes funny, often heartbreaking performance as Robert Kearns, the inventor of the aforementioned device, who boldly takes on Ford for stealing his creation. Genius? We think so. -- Tom DiChiara
9. 'Religulous' Bill Maher takes blasphemy to new heights in this controversial doc that finds him on a globetrotting quest for answers about organized religion. Atheists and agnostics will cheer, those "mildly" religious will find it thought-provoking, and the deeply devout will be deeply offended. Bonus: It's directed by 'Borat' helmer Larry Charles, and there's not a naked Ken Davitian in sight. -- Kevin Polowy
10. 'City of Ember' Based on the popular books by Jeanne Duprau, this adventure flick about an underground city built to save humanity should be fun for families, so long as the kids are 10 and up. It has some scary bits, including a giant rooster monster -- plus there's that whole apocalyptic thing. You also have to be a certain age to fully appreciate the drollness of Bill Murray, who plays mayor. -- Kevin Polowy
If he needed more time, Stone contractually had the option of releasing the film around the time Bush leaves office in January.
But with two weeks until the election, this is prime time for a Bush biography, said Steve Rothenberg, Lionsgate head of distribution.
"We felt it was very important to release the film after the presidential debates but before the election," Rothenberg said. "We felt interest in the election would be at its height, and interest in George W. Bush would be much greater now than after January. We feel we have a good corridor over the next two weeks."
The movie received mixed reviews, with critics surprised at how relatively tame it turned out coming from liberal firebrand Stone, who made the paranoia-laden presidential tales "JFK" and "Nixon."
Brolin's Bush has some buffoonish moments, but Stone showed empathy for the president, casting him as a man with serious daddy issues but an unshakable relationship with wife Laura to fall back on.
Among the weekend's other new movies, 20th Century Fox's "Max Payne" averaged $5,332 in 3,376 theaters and Fox Searchlight's "The Secret Life of Bees" did $6,945 in 1,591 cinemas.
Disney's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," which had been the No. 1 movie the previous two weekends, raised its total to $69.1 million.
Adapted from the video game, "Max Payne" stars Wahlberg as a New York City cop hunting the killers of his wife and child.
"The Secret Life of Bees" stars Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo in a drama about a troubled teen learning life lessons through the beekeeping operations of three Southern sisters.
"Max Payne" had a predominantly male audience, "The Secret Life of Bees" played to women, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" continued to grab family crowds and "W." was the choice for politically minded adults.
"You've got all kinds of pictures out there," said 20th Century Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston. "When this business is great is when there are a lot of different pictures out that people want to go see."
Hollywood's overall revenues rose for the fourth-straight weekend. The top-12 movies took in $86.4 million, up 10 percent from the same weekend last year.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Max Payne," $18 million.
2. "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," $11.2 million.
3. "The Secret Life of Bees," $11.1 million.
4. "W.," $10.6 million.
5. "Eagle Eye," $7.3 million.
6. "Body of Lies," $6.9 million.
7. "Quarantine," $6.3 million.
8. "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," $3.9 million.
Moviegoers elected a W, but it was Mark Wahlberg, not George W. Bush. Wahlberg\'s action flick Max Payne debuted with $18 million to outdo Oliver Stone\'s film biography of George W. Bush, according to studio estimates Sunday.
