Dreamworks' computer-animated feature, Shark Tale, savaged the competition once again, dropping just 33% to earn an estimated $31.7 million over the weekend. With a ten-day total of some $87.7 million, Shark Tale could top the $200 million mark by the time its theatrical run is through. Second place went to the high school football drama, Friday Night Lights, which brought in an estimated $20.5 million.
After a brutally slow September at the box office, Shark Tale has given theater operators some sweet relief and demonstrated that computer-animated features are the hottest new box office genre, even hotter than movies based on comic book heroes.
The Vertigo-based Constantine was originally supposed to open next week, but it has been moved to Feb. 11, 2005, quite possibly sparing it the shame of being hammered by a three-week-old cartoon feature.