Borat scores surprise number one

 

the beeb says:

 

Spoof Kazakh reporter Borat - aka Ali G comedian Sacha Baron Cohen - has scored a surprise box office hit in the US.

 

The film - with its naked wrestling and toilet humour - took $26.4m (£13.9m) in the US and Canada at the weekend, more than double estimated forecasts.

 

It was expected to open in the top five, but well behind The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, which opened in second place with $20m (£10.53m).

 

Borat opened in just 837 cinemas, while Santa Clause 3 debuted in 3,458.

 

Film industry insiders had not expected Borat - full title Borat: Cultural Learning of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - to be as popular with mainstream audiences.

 

Santa Claus 3, starring Tim Allen as Santa, failed to match the $29m (£15.3m) start for its 2002 predecessor.

 

Animated comedy Flushed Away finished in third place with an estimated $19.1m (£10m), according to preliminary figures from Exhibitor Relations.

 

The Aardman Animations film, about a pampered pet rat who is flushed down a toilet, features the voices of Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman.

 

Horror film Saw III, the top earning film from last weekend, dropped to fourth place with takings of $15.5m (£8.17m).

 

Director Martin Scorcese's drama The Departed, starring Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio, ranked fifth with earnings of $8m (£4.2m).

 

Scarlett Johansson's latest release, The Prestige, followed in sixth place with $7.8m (£4.1m).

 

Flags of Our Fathers, Man of the Year, Open Season and The Queen rounded out the top ten.

 

NORTH AMERICAN BOX OFFICE

1. Borat ($26.4m)

2. The Santa Clause 3 ($20m)

3. Flushed Away ($19.1m)

4. Saw III ($15.5m)

5. The Departed ($8m)

6. The Prestige ($7.8m)

7. Flags of Our Fathers ($4.5m)

8. Man of the Year ($3.8m)

9. Open Season ($3.1m)

10. The Queen ($3m)

Source: Exhibitor Relations

 

 

 

Brilliant! :lol:

:rofl: Go Borat :smoke:

Nice to see Borat at #1 :D

 

Although I don't understand why Santa Claus 3 is at cinems at the beginning of Novemember. :wacko:

"Nice!" :rofl:

Although I don't understand why Santa Claus 3 is at cinems at the beginning of Novemember. :wacko:

 

maybe because its the official start of xmas. i've already heard slade this week on tv.

maybe because its the official start of xmas. i've already heard slade this week on tv.

 

I still don't see how you can start Christmas in Novemeber though. :huh: Surely the film would get more money if it was released nearer to Christmas. :unsure:

I still don't see how you can start Christmas in Novemeber though. :huh: Surely the film would get more money if it was released nearer to Christmas. :unsure:

 

its one of those strange comercial things like in the meejja world of tv where the day starts at 6am and its still tuesday when you watch infernal affairs 2 tonight