Pirates of the Caribbean Biggest Money Maker of the Year

[Stephen of Borg 2]

"Pirates of the Caribbean" is looking more like "Treasure Island." Already a record-shattering blockbuster, Johnny Depp's sequel "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" dug up $62.2 million in its second weekend, raising its 10-day total to $258.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

 

The movie has quickly become the year's top-grossing film, rocketing past "X-Men: The Last Stand," which has taken in $232 million in eight weeks. The "Pirates" sequel has grossed an additional $125 million overseas.

 

"It's really fun when you're riding a comet like this," said Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney, which based the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies on its theme park attraction. "This thing is just unbelievable. It creates its own wake."

 

 

 

 

Sony's "Little Man," the Wayans brothers' slapstick farce about a pint-size thief masquerading as a baby, opened as the No. 2 movie with $21.7 million. The tale stars Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who co-wrote it with brother Keenen Ivory Wayans, the director.

 

Universal's comedy "You, Me and Dupree," starring Owen Wilson as a houseguest causing chaos for a buddy and his new bride (Matt Dillon and Kate Hudson), debuted at No. 3 with $21.3 million.

 

Hollywood's business dipped for the first time in two months. After eight straight weekends of rising revenues, overall receipts totaled $156 million, down 5 percent from the same weekend last year, when Depp also was at the top of the box office with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

 

Still, the second weekend gross for "Dead Man's Chest" topped the debut of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," which opened with $56.2 million. "Dead Man's Chest" had the third-best second weekend ever, behind "Shrek 2" ($72.2 million) and "Spider-Man" ($71.4 million).

 

By next weekend, "Dead Man's Chest" should climb past the $305 million domestic total rung up by its predecessor, 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," Disney's Viane said.

 

"Dead Man's Chest" debuted with $135.6 million over the opening weekend, beating the previous record of $114.8 million set by "Spider-Man" in 2002.

 

Ending with a cliffhanger, "Dead Man's Chest" will be closely followed by a third "Pirates" movie due out next May, with Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and other co-stars on a voyage to rescue Depp's rakish pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow.

 

"Huge expectations. 'Pirates 2' is maybe the toughest act in box-office history to follow," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "'Pirates 3' is the definition of a predestined blockbuster."

 

After a strong start in narrow release the previous weekend, Warner Independent's sci-fi drug-addiction tale "A Scanner Darkly" expanded to more theaters and broke into the top 10 with $1.2 million. The movie, featuring Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder and Robert Downey Jr., was shot in live action then painted over with digital animation

[MrPsychic 1]

It was a good movie, with a great cliffhanger. Can't wait to see the next one.

[Jack_Bauer 1]

Well it is an excellent movie, a little long but still great. I've heard talk that POTC2 could eventually surpass the domestic box office record set by Titanic (just over $600 million not adjusted for inflation), which is not as shocking as it sounds since POTC2 has already made nearly half (approx 43%) of that total in only 11 days.

[LoveMalePecs1 0]

Oh yes POTC was indeed a good movie with lots of funny moments in it and some supernatural elements in it as well and a amazing Cliffhanger at the end of part 2 might be surprised how it all concludes in the 3rd one?.

 

 

[Kor37 9]

I still liked the first one better but it was still a great movie. I don't like having to wait til next summer to see the ending though.

[gul_nodrog 2]

I'm really happy for Johnny Depp ... he has always seemed like a very nice person, funny, self-deprecating, pretty much the anti-hero by Hollywood standards. I don't particularly agree with his politics, but the cool thing about him is that he's genuinely puzzled as to why anyone would listen to anything he had to say about politics ... "I'm just an *&@#ing actor!"

 

He got snubbed by the Academy for Donnie Brasco. I really hope they recognize him with an Oscar nod/win soon. And, no, I don't just like him because he is the sexiest man walking on the planet .....

 

I thought the movie was great. Can't wait for the next one.

[A l t e r E g o 9]

POTC 2 was excellent.

 

My only complaint is about the sequel not being released until next year, (against spiddy 3) Christmas 06 would be better imo. For that decision I am not going to see POTC 2 again at the theaters, I'll wait until it's on DVD. That'll fix 'em.

[Lizy 1]

I like both pirates of the caribean 1 n 2 can't say one is better then the other one so I say both of them are good to me. Also I say Johnny Depp is a good actor and he is good looking for this age he 43 and he is hot too.

Edited July 23, 2006 by Deanna Troi Fan Lizzy