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Smuggling $25.7 million from 3,021 locations, Miami Vice was lukewarm in its opening but out-gunned the fourth frame of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest to win the weekend. Since Pirates' debut, there hasn't been a breakout hit. Michael MannJamie FoxxColin FarrellTom HanksJulia RobertsNicolas CageMeryl StreepWoody AllenScarlett Johansson

Michael Mann's Miami Vice is a stylized take on his polished television show and it is a lifeless dud. Whatever the 1980s cop drama had to offer is lost in an incomprehensible mess. Colin FarrellJamie Foxx

Run fast from the atrociously themed The Ant Bully, a crude, joyless and unfunny piece of altruistic propaganda. Even the animation, with items of varying scale, suffers in this computer-generated trash, which proposes that man, not ant, is small and insignificant. Tom HanksJulia RobertsNicolas CageMeryl StreepLily Tomlin

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest hauled in $60.1 million over the weekend from 35 territories, including 11 openings, and pushed its overall total to $214.1 million. Vince VaughnJennifer Aniston

It was smooth sailing for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest as the supernatural swashbuckler swept up another milestone and handily overwhelmed four new wide releases. Monster House was the best of the sorry lot. M. Night ShyamalanKevin SmithIvan ReitmanUma Thurman

Burbank, California—Mickey Spillane died this week, departing a world in dire need of his unwavering voice for justice, detective hero Mike Hammer. Spillane's first novel, I, the Jury—made into a movie twice—introduced Mike Hammer and thumbing through the yellowed pages of my paperback edition easily conjures the heart-thumping excitement of reading it for the first time. I picked it up in Santa Monica over 20 years ago for a few dollars and cents. It paid for itself on the first page.

Maybe these pixilated animation movies are losing their luster, but the latest computerized kid picture, Monster House, is a grind. The story is straightforward enough, but the sum total is underwhelming.

Rejuvenating business in their respective markets Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Superman Returns made up for the box office lost during the World Cup. Pirates led the way with $57 million from 24 markets (18 of which were new), pushing its total to $124 million—it's the seventh title of the year to cross the century mark.

With a second weekend most would covet for an opening, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest continued its record-raiding ways, while two comedies about oddball houseguests vied for second and third place, neither a threat to Pirates' booty. Owen WilsonKate Hudson

Owen Wilson's thirtysomething imbecile is at the core of You, Me and Dupree, another noble doofus comedy. The broken-nosed blond plays third wheel to newlyweds Matt Dillon and Kate Hudson, making their lives intolerable. This flimsy basis supports a predictable, choppy story. Adam SandlerVince VaughnMichael Douglas

Burbank, California—Hollywood lost another star this week. The word "perky" comes to mind when one thinks of June Allyson in motion pictures. With an irrepressibly cheerful tone in that raspy voice, she carried perkiness with pride. James Garner

In its maiden voyage to seven territories, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest hijacked the foreign box office over the weekend with a lusty $46.6 million, nearly quadrupling what its predecessor opened to in those same markets. Not even the final matches of the box-office-draining World Cup could stop it.

Yo ho, yo ho. A pirate's life for… everyone. Johnny Depp

During a recent interview about Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series—including next year's installment—writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio demonstrate clarity, intelligence and a flash of the randy humor that's made the franchise a hit. Johnny DeppGore VerbinskiClint EastwoodGeoffrey RushJerry Bruckheimer

Burbank, California—This week's big release recalls the wide swath of pirate pictures, from the era of Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power to Swashbuckler in 1976. Tommy Lee JonesKevin KlineJohnny Depp

Dormant for 19 years, Superman relaunched on the big screen at a time when superheroes and super-inflated opening grosses run rampant in theaters, and, while his reception was much softer than newer men in tights like Spider-Man and X-Men, he hovered slightly above the debut of Batman's reboot last summer. Bryan SingerChristopher ReeveJohn WilliamsMeryl StreepAnne Hathaway

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest intensifies the original's horror effects and adds a shade of grey to each character. Deviating from the two young lovers (Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom), director Gore Verbinski keeps pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in the spotlight. Ted ElliottTerry RossioStellan SkarsgårdJerry Bruckheimer

In its foreign debut, Superman Returns was in the range of X-Men: The Last Stand and ahead of Batman Begins, but well below Spider-Man. Grossing $20 million over the weekend from 11 markets, the Man of Steel ranked first across the board and boasted one record.

Disney's first in a series based on its popular theme park attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a frivolous excursion. Blending horror and adventure, with mild gore, this Jerry Bruckheimer production—too ghoulish to be a bonafide swashbuckler—begins with the story of a ghost ship, the Black Pearl. She sails under a dreadful curse. Gore VerbinskiKeira KnightleyOrlando BloomJohnny DeppGeoffrey Rush

Superman Returns raked in $21 million on Wednesday, which includes grosses from Tuesday night preview showings. Its opening day ranks as the 29th highest-grossing ever and eighth when counting only Wednesday starts.