`Quantum of Solace` takes $2.2m at US box-office, stays in top 10

22-Dec-2008 • Quantum Of Solace

The latest James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace", has clung on to a top 10 spot at the US box-office this weekend as the slate of films at theatres ramped up ahead of the holiday season.

"Quantum" took an estimated $2.2m over the weekend and landed at #10. Exact figures will be released Monday night. The film's theatre count fell by 761 to 1,874 dates.

The weekend puts "Quantum" at an estimated $161.3m for North America, just $6m short of the record set by "Casino Royale".

Elsewhere in the chart, Jim Carrey's comedy "Yes Man" opened at No. 1 with $18.2 million in ticket sales, while Smith's drama "Seven Pounds" came in second with $16 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" slipped from No. 1 to No. 4 with $10.2 million.

The top 12 movies took in $82.8 million, down 44 percent from the same weekend last year, when "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" led with $44.8 million. The last two ho-hum weekends have hindered Hollywood's shot at breaking the domestic revenue record of $9.7 billion set last year. Revenues through Sunday were at $9.24 billion, virtually even with 2007 through the same date, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers.

Given the sour economy, studio executives generally are satisfied with this year's results. Hollywood tends to ride out recessions with solid business, since movies are relatively inexpensive compared to entertainment options such as concerts or sports events. "The movie business may be recession-proof, but this weekend, it's not weather-proof," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers.