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'Happy Feet,' 'Casino Royale' Top Thanksgiving

Keeping in this decade's tradition, leftovers dominated the Thanksgiving frame, unphased by a mediocre lot of new movies. Repeating at first and second, Happy Feet and Casino Royale, the closest things to event pictures in the market now, posted strong second weekends. Denzel WashingtonJerry BruckheimerTony ScottDarren AronofskyJack Black

Techno Thriller Works

The latest "what if … ?" entry, Disney's Deja Vu, directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington, is an edge-of-the-seat thriller. With a plot based on wormholes that totally discards the laws of physics, it is necessary to temporarily accept the movie's time travel hook—which makes no sense—to enjoy the show. Val KilmerTerry RossioTed Elliott

Around the World Roundup: 'Casino' Cashes In

Casino Royale hit the jackpot overseas with a tremendous $43.4 million opening over the weekend from the United Kingdom, Russia and 30 smaller markets. The British secret intelligence agent led the way at home with a franchise best $25.5 million from 988 screens, which was the third largest opening ever in the market (excluding previews). Another franchise record fell in Russia, where Casino collected $5.1 million from 631 screens.

NEW CHARTS: Yearly Box Office by MPAA Ratings

Yearly box office can now be viewed by MPAA rating in the new MPAA Breakdown sub-section, which includes indexes by year, rating or both. Clicking through to a chart from the indexes will show the top 20 movies by a given MPAA rating.

Penguins Tip-Tap Past Bond

The holiday season's first and only major box office showdown was a near draw. The counter-programming of the family-oriented Happy Feet against the action-driven Casino Royale yielded two openings over $40 million. Overall, though, the weekend was the least attended pre-Thanksgiving frame in eight years and lagged 19 percent behind last year when Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire debuted to $102.7 million. Daniel CraigJudi DenchPierce BrosnanSnoop DoggChristopher Guest

New Bond Blunted

Wiping the slate clean, the heavily marketed restart of writer Ian Fleming's secret agent James Bond, Casino Royale, retains most of Bond's essence and practically none of his charms. Judi DenchPaul HaggisMartin Campbell

Animated Penguins Step Out of Line

Following the short, peppy Robin Williams riff in the trailer and slotted in a year of computer-generated drivel, Happy Feet looked like a blast of cool penguins dancing to the familiar Williams routine. But Happy Feet is not a happy occasion. Elijah WoodGeorge MillerHugh JackmanNicole Kidman

Around the World Roundup: 'Borat' Doesn't Budge

Topping the foreign box office again, Borat pulled in $15.6 million over the weekend, easing 14 percent and propelled mostly by holdovers without any major openings. The Sacha Baron Cohen mockumentary's total grew to $42.8 million, most of which coming from the United Kingdom where it has grossed $26.7 million, surpassing Cohen's previous movie, Ali G Indahouse. Russell Crowe

'Borat' Shticks to First

Handily fending off a poor spate of new releases, Borat invaded the entire nation, tripling its theater count, and remained the top draw for the second weekend in a row. The family movies, The Santa Clause 3 and Flushed Away, claimed second and third place again, respectively, enjoying traditionally strong Veterans Day weekend holds. Will FerrellBrad PittCate BlanchettRidley ScottRussell CroweChristian Bale

Gary Cooper and 'The Fountainhead' on DVD

Burbank, California—Premiering on DVD, Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead is included on Warner Bros. highly anticipated boxed set, Gary Cooper: The Signature Collection. The other motion pictures included are The Wreck of the Mary Deare, Springfield Rifle, Dallas and the World War 1 epic Sergeant York.

'What If?' Movie Is Nonsense

Stranger Than Fiction is an abstract blend of the saccharine and the absurd. Using Will Ferrell as the bland protagonist searching for meaning in his life, director Marc Forster (Finding Neverland) tries to make sense of the script but it ends up in la la land. Emma ThompsonDustin HoffmanQueen Latifah

Around the World Roundup: 'Borat' Skewers Top Spot

An enormous debut in the United Kingdom propelled Borat to the top of the foreign box office over the weekend. Sacha Baron Cohen's mockumentary opened to $18.6 million from just 993 screens, ranking first in 11 of its 17 markets. The U.K. alone accounted for $11.8 million from 427 screens, more than doubling the start of Cohen's previous vehicle, Ali G Indahouse.

'Borat' Bombards the Top Spot

Turns out demand for Borat wasn't entirely a media creation like Team America: World Police or Snakes on a Plane but more akin to Fahrenheit 9/11 and Jackass in initial audience appeal. Steve MartinMartin Scorsese

'Family,' Liza Minnelli and 'Cabaret'

Burbank, California—Thirty years ago, ABC premiered a somber drama called Family. Available for the first time on DVD, the Mike Nichols production introduced the Lawrence bunch of Pasadena, California, in sharp stories about divorce, alcoholism and dealing with a loved one's death. The program nursed a roster of talented artists, including directors Randal Kleiser (Grease) and Mark Rydell (On Golden Pond) and writer and producer Marshall Herskovitz (Blood Diamond).

Rat Pack Goes Down the Drain

Neither as bad as its title nor as stupid as most in the crowded field of computer-animated movies, Flushed Away's charms do not suffice. The feature, from Aardman who created the amusing Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, is flawed, formulaic and sporadically funny.

Around the World Roundup: 'Prada' Still in Vogue

Working the top spot in its fourth weekend, The Devil Wears Prada grabbed $17.6 million at the foreign box office, lifting its total to $130.4 million. Martin ScorseseClint Eastwood

'Saw' Sharp in Third Outing

After The Grudge and Texas Chainsaw Massacre deteriorated with their second pictures, Saw showed teeth in its third outing, becoming the rare franchise to find equal or greater success than its first movie. Martin ScorseseClint EastwoodBrad PittCate Blanchett

Three Music Discs Rock October

Burbank, California—Fall's the perfect time for a brand new Bob Seger CD. His first album in years deserves a solid B grade for the beer and bratwurst bunch, who appreciate the gray-haired Motor City rocker, seen revving his hog on the cover. His latest Capitol Records release, Face the Promise, contains 12 road-ready tunes, including an irresistible title track, the pick of the litter. Robert Redford

Around the World Roundup: 'Prada' Struts to Third Victory

For the third weekend in a row, The Devil Wears Prada led the foreign box office, grossing $18.6 million for a fabulous $104 million overall total. The fashion comedy had one major opening, Sweden's $606,405 from 66 screens, as holdovers propelled its weekend. Italy and Germany were its biggest markets, each contributing about $3.5 million after minimal drops. Next weekend, Prada strikes South Korea.

'Prestige' Rises to the Top, 'Flags' Lags

Two pedigreed and high profile period pieces garnered inauspicious debuts, though the tougher sell, The Prestige, handily trumped the industry-favored Flags of Our Fathers to claim the weekend title. Overall business levitated 18 percent above the same frame last year when Doom was on top. Hugh JackmanChristian BaleChristopher NolanClint EastwoodMartin Scorsese
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