The Simpsons Movie from 20th Century Fox may have been drop-kicked out of the top spot at the North American box office by Universal’s spy thriller The Bourne Ultimatum, but the big-screen extension of the iconic cartoon series remains No. 1 overseas for the second consecutive week. Meanwhile, Disney’s live-action adaptation of the classic Underdog animated series debuted in third place with an estimated $12 million from 3,000 theaters in the U.S.
Fresh off his critically acclaimed United 93, director Paul Greengrass has scored a major commercial hit with The Bourne Ultimatum, which grossed an estimated $70 million with its North American bow. The Jason Bourne franchise has been steadily growing in popularity since The Bourne Identity debuted to $27 in 2002. The second film, The Bourne Supremacy, opened with $52 in 2004 in on its way to $288 million worldwide. With the trilogy completed, the franchise had reportedly reached a natural end, though Fox will surly do its best to keep it alive as long as audiences keep coming back for more.
Domestically, The Simpsons Movie earned approximately $25.6 million over the weekend to bring its two-week total to $128.5 million. The pic has performed even better in foreign territories, taking in $47.3 million in 75 markets this frame to drive the overseas total to an estimated $187 million. Worldwide, Homer, Bart and the rest of the gang have brought Fox around $315.6 million in just two weeks time.
Underdog may not have attracted a huge audience, but it did fare better than fellow openers Hot Rod and BRATZ. Starring Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg as self-proclaimed stuntman, Paramount’s Hot Rod failed to get off the ramp, earning just $5 million to debut at No. 9. BRATZ, which got a modest 1,500-theater rollout, took in approximately $4.3 million to just barely beat out Disney/Pixar’s Ratatouille for the No. 10 spot. Ratatouille is starting to make some serious foreign bank, enjoying No. 1 openings in nine markets and pulling in a total of $83 million overseas so far.
Universal’s other summer hit, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, finished fourth for the weekend with an estimated $10.5 million, while New Line Cinema’s Hairspray remake finished out the top five with around $9.3 million.
