'King Kong' Nudges 'Narnia' as Christmas Champ

A Sunday night surge gave Universal's "King Kong" the needed push for the No. 1 spot over the Friday-through-Monday period with $31.4 million (euro 26.48 million), edging Buena Vista's "Chronicles of Narnia" estimated $30.1 million (euro 25.38 million) take.

The box office lead shifted back and forth all last week as new releases cropped up Wednesday, Friday and still more Christmas Day.

"It's a battle of the holiday blockbusters. It was very close for the No. 1 position," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

"There's only so much room. I think crowded is the fair term to describe the marketplace right now," Universal Pictures vice chairman Marc Shmuger said Monday, noting overall box office was up 20 percent over the weekend compared to the previous weekend.

"These two movies are energizing the business," said Chuck Viane, president Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, adding "Narnia" is continuing to lure audiences in its third week of release.

"This is a fantastic hold," Viane said. "We're probably looking at breaking the $200 million (euro 168.65 million) barrier by New Year's Eve. I think what you have here is a movie instantly becoming one of those holiday classics."

Sony's "Fun With Dick and Jane" was third with $23.5 million (euro 19.82 million).

"It doesn't get much better than having a Jim Carrey movie for the holidays," said Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment.

"Cheaper By The Dozen 2" was fourth with $14.8 million (euro 12.48 million) and "The Family Stone" was fifth with $10.9 million (euro 9.19 million).

"Memoirs of a Geisha" was in sixth place with $10.2 million (euro 8.6 million), followed by "The Ringer" with $8.4 million (euro7.08 million), "Rumor Has It" in eighth with $7.5 million (euro 6.32 million) and "Wolf Creek" ninth with $3.4 million (euro 2.87 million).

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," now in its sixth week of release, rounded on the Top 10 with a four-day tally of $5.7 million (euro 4.81 million). It's North America box office take is now $262.4 million (euro 221.27 million).

The Universal pictures "Munich" and "The Producers," in limited release, did well. "Munich" was No. 11 overall with a $5.7 million (euro 4.81 million) take at 532 theaters for a per-theater average of $10,735 (euro 9,052) and "The Producers," which expanded from six theaters to 975 on Christmas Day, earned $3.5 million (euro 2.95 million) for a $3,581 (euro 3,019.65) average.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations. Final figures will be released Tuesday.

1. "King Kong," $31.4 million (euro 26.48 million).

2. "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," $30.1 million (euro 25.38 million).

3. "Fun with Dick and Jane," $23.5 million (euro 19.82 million).

4. "Cheaper by the Dozen 2," $14.8 million (euro 12.48 million).

5. "The Family Stone," $10.9 million (euro 9.19 million).

6. "Memoirs of a Geisha," $10.2 million (euro 8.6 million).

7. "The Ringer," $8.4 million (euro 7.08 million).

8. "Rumor Has It," $7.5 million (euro 6.32 million).

9. "Wolf Creek," $5.9 million (euro 4.98 million).