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.

 

Paramount's Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow fell 30% (buoyed in part by sneak previews of the South Park gang's Team America) to $2.27 million, bringing its total to $34 million.  The zombie/comedy Shaun of the Dead is closing in on $10 million, which is not bad considering its limited release, while Resident Evil: Apocalypse appears to be running out of steam and should finish with around $50 million.  The martial arts epic Hero has nearly run its course and is likely to finish with close to $54 million.