Box Office Report: Sept. 15-17

Apologies for the delay, but vacation called and I answered, so here’s last weekend’s box office report this weekend. Obviously, the next one will be soon to follow in a couple of days. Overall, the newcomers made a mostly unspectacular debut, with the well timed release of “Gridiron Gang” snagging the top spot. Based on its somewhat disappointing first weekend, it would seem that “The Black Dahlia” will depend on word of mouth to recoup its budget costs.

Also look for an upcoming review on “The Illusionist,” which will feature the debut of “What’s Next,” a brief glance at what the movie’s major players have coming up for future projects. Not that the reviews need anything extra to them, but I’m in a giving mood, so just go with it.

1. “Gridiron Gang”
(Weekend domestic gross - $14.4 million)
(Worldwide gross - $14.4 million)
(Budget - $30 million)
2. “The Black Dahlia”
(Weekend domestic gross - $10.0 million)
(Worldwide gross - $10.0 million)
(Budget - $50 million)
3. “Everybody’s Hero”
(Weekend domestic gross - $6.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $6.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
4. “The Covenant”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.8 million)
(Worldwide gross - $18.4 million)
(Budget - N/A)
5. “The Last Kiss”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $4.6 million)
(Budget - $20 million)
6. “Invincible”
(Weekend domestic gross - $4.1 million)
(Worldwide gross - $52.1 million)
(Budget - N/A)
7. “The Illusionist”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.6 million)
(Worldwide gross - $25.1 million)
(Budget - $16.5 million)
8. “Little Miss Sunshine”
(Weekend domestic gross - $3.3 million)
(Worldwide gross - $51.4 million)
(Budget - $8 million)
9. “Hollywoodland”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.7 million)
(Worldwide gross - $11.4 million)
(Budget - N/A)
10. “Crank”
(Weekend domestic gross - $2.68 million)
(Worldwide gross - $28.7 million)
(Budget - $12 million)

2006 Year-To-Date
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
(Worldwide gross - $1.032 billion)
(Budget - $225 million)
2. “The Da Vinci Code”
(Worldwide gross - $754.0 million)
(Budget - $125 million)
3. “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
(Worldwide gross - $645.9 million)
(Budget - $80 million)
4. “X-Men: The Last Stand”
(Worldwide gross - $451.3 million)
(Budget - $210 million)
5. “Cars”
(Worldwide gross - $435.9 million)
(Budget - $120 million)
6. “Mission: Impossible III”
(Worldwide gross - $395.6 million)
(Budget - $150 million)
7. “Superman Returns”
(Worldwide gross - $386.3 million)
(Budget - $260 million)
8. “Over the Hedge”
(Worldwide gross - $310.0 million)
(Budget - N/A)
9. “The Break-Up”
(Worldwide gross - $193.3 million)
(Budget - $52 million)
10. “Inside Man”
(Worldwide gross - $183.9 million)
(Budget - $45 million)