‘Bangkok’ Tops Slowest Weekend Since 2003

Published by Jeff Leins on: September 7th, 2008

Nicolas Cage’s Bangkok Dangerous barely led the field with just $7.8 million in the worst movie weekend since 2003.

The first weekend after Labor Day is typically a low point for the Hollywood box office, but with only one opener (and a bad one) it proved to be an even worse stumble into the fall season. This weekend happened to be the worst in five years going back to David Spade’s Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star somehow winning the same weekend in 2003.

Dangerous’s estimated $7.8 million ranks 9th in the lowest #1s on Box Office Mojo, a site that aggregates movie ticket sales. It’s 5th if you only count first weekends. It’s also among Nicolas Cage’s worst career openings.

It barely edged Tropic Thunder’s $7.5 million, which hoped to finish first for the fourth weekend in a row. The R-rated Ben Stiller comedy has made $96.8 million total so far.

In fourth, The Dark Knight continued its slow quest for epic status, adding another $5.7 million to its $512 million gross. It may fall short of becoming the biggest U.S. film of all-time, but with inevitable re-releases in IMAX and select theaters, it could pass Titanic at a later date. According to insiders at Warners, the DVD will be out in December.

Traitor maintained top five status with just $4.7 million. I didn’t write a review after I saw it, but it’s a solid movie. Though I liked it better the first time when it was called “Sleeper Cell.”

Babylon continued to struggle, falling to sixth with $4 million. It won’t come anywhere near its $70 million budget. Death Race ($3.6 million) doesn’t have much left in its tank either. And Disaster Movie is a complete… disaster with $3.3 million in its second weekend. With 0% positive reviews on RottenTomatoes, the critics have rated it the worst movie of the year.

1. Bangkok Dangerous $7.8 million
2. Tropic Thunder $7.5 million
3. The House Bunny $5.9 million
4. The Dark Knight $5.7 million
5. Traitor $4.7 million
6. Babylon A.D. $4 million
7. Death Race $3.6 million
8. Disaster Movie $3.3 million
9. Mamma Mia! $2.7 million
10. Pineapple Express $2.4 million