Shrek 2 held onto the top spot in the box office derby with astounding estimated four-day total of $92.2 million, a decline of only 14.7% from its opening frame.  The Day After Tomorrow, Roland Emmerich's disaster film from Fox, came in a close second with an estimated 3-total of $70 million and a projected four-day gross of $86 million.  Day's opening was the best ever for a disaster film, and its 3-day total doubled the previous record for a non-number one debut.  The top 12 films earned some $234 million, a 21% improvement over the previous record for the Memorial Day weekend.

 

The expansion of the movie-going audience this Memorial Day was certainly aided by dreary weather across much of the country, but it was also a testament to the commercial potential of the top two films, which accounted for about 75% of the four-day box office total.  Shrek 2 is now clearly the frontrunner for summer box office champ.  With a gargantuan total of $256 million after just two weekends, the film appears destined for a spot in the all-time box office top ten, if not top five.  The opening of the latest Harry Potter film next weekend should provide another severe challenge for Shrek 2's box office reign -- if the big green ogre can top the teenage wizard -- look out!   Retailers should feel confident at this point that Shrek 2 won't fade away as quickly as most summer blockbusters  (for a quick look at some of the Shrek 2 merchandise see, 'Shrek 2 Poised for Box Office Run').

 

Troy declined a modest 37.3% in its third weekend of release and became the latest film to pass the $100 million mark by running its cumulative to $109.6 million.  Van Helsing dropped by 41% and slipped to the seventh spot in its fourth week.  It looks like it will finish up in the neighborhood of $120 million domestically.