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Box Office Breakdown: Theatergoers Choose Shrek Over Sex

Sex and the City 2

Shrek - not cosmopolitans - was what fans were buying this weekend.

Despite competition from two heavily-promoted features, an aging green ogre was able to hang on to his title for two weeks in a row. raised an additional $57 million during the Memorial Day frame to bring its domestic total to $146.8 million.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. proved that people can get tired of sex. Sex and the City 2 - which featured the return of Aidan Shaw (John Corbett) - couldn’t get past the bad reviews to even match the first film’s numbers. (Sex and the City opened to $56.8 million in May 2008.) The lovely ladies also couldn’t overpower Jake Gyllenhaal’s four-day haul. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time wound up snagging second place with a $37.8 million debut.

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Box Office Breakdown: MacGruber IS a Bomb

MacGruber

Disappointment can come in all shapes and box office sizes.

may have earned nearly three times as much than its nearest competitor, but it wasn’t exactly a winner for Paramount or Dreamworks. The film, which grossed $70.8 million in ticket sales, become the first sequel in the Shrek franchise to open below the $100 million mark (and that’s with the help of higher 3-D prices). The comedy did, though, place fourth on the all-time animated debuts list behind Shrek the Third ($121.6 million), Shrek 2 ($108 million)  and The Simpsons Movie ($74 million).

Meanwhile, it appears will last just as long in theaters as he does in Will Forte’s sketches. Although the character is (supposedly) known for diffusing bombs, he actually helped deliver one this weekend. The latest Saturday Night Live-based comedy - also starring Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe - generated a mere $4 million this weekend. While that number seems (understandably) dismal, there is one positive thing to note: the film only cost approximately $10 million to make.

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Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man Fights Off Robin Hood

Robin Hood

‘s excellent aim couldn’t keep Robert Downey Jr. off target.

Despite increased competition in its second week of release, remained firm at the box office. Paramount’s sequel generated another $52 million between Friday-Sunday and vaulted over the $200 million mark domestically.

Meanwhile, ‘s arrow was sharp enough for a $36 million bounty, but a bit too dull for a first place finish. The film did, though, earn approximately $74 million in foreign dollars. That topped the $43.1 million overseas debut for 2000’s Gladiator - another Crowe/Ridley Scott production.

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Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man 2 Soars High Above the Competition

Iron Man 2

Only one movie earned over $10 million over this weekend…and only movie scored over $125 million as well.

Iron Man 2 - with help from Mickey Rourke’s powerful weapons - whipped up $128.1 million over the past three days, giving Paramount its biggest open in history. The sequel, which was produced for approximately $170 million, easily improved upon Iron Man‘s $98.6 million premiere in 2008 and nabbed the fifth-largest debut of all time. (The Dark Knight still tops that leader board with its $158.4 million outing.)

Focus Features’ also made news of its own despite coming nowhere near Iron Man 2‘s numbers. The documentary, which was only released in 534 theaters, delivered $2.2 million and a ninth-place finish over the Mother’s Day weekend.

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Box Office Breakdown: Freddy Krueger a Theatrical Nightmare

Nightmare on Elm Street

Even though it’s a recurring dream, can still still scare up a few dollars.

Warner Bros.’ reboot of the horror classic clawed its way up to the top of the charts this weekend with a bloody good $32.9 million. Director Samuel Bayer’s first feature film more than tripled its nearest competitor while just falling shy of Freddy vs. Jason‘s $36 million open in 2003. (This installment did, though, top all other Elm street debuts.)

Meanwhile, it appears Brendan Fraser’s latest entry may have actually scared away audiences. , also starring Brooke Shields, only grossed $6.6 million over the last three days. Sadly, that amount was still higher than what Fraser generated in his last film…with Harrison Ford. (Extraordinary Measures unfolded to $6 million back in January.)

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Box Office Breakdown: Jennifer Lopez Needs a Back-up Plan

The Back-Up Plan

Jennifer Lopez’s recent performance at the box office - like her number at the American Music Awards - wasn’t exactly flawless.

, Lopez’s first major release since 2005, was not what moviegoers had planned for their few days off. The romantic comedy, which co-stars Alex O’Loughlin, earned a lackluster $12.2 million in ticket sales and a seat behind the five-week-old How to Train Your Dragon.

CBS Films did have one thing to brag about though: it’s movie performed better than any new wide release this weekend. (Granted, that isn’t saying much.) - an actioner featuring a large ensemble of actors - wrangled up a disappointing $9.4 million for fourth place. While that was enough to surpass last week’s champ, Kick-Ass, the two films were only separated by about $400,000. Meanwhile, Oceans, Disney’s nature documentary, landed in 8th place with $6.1 million.

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Box Office Breakdown: Kick-Ass Saves Its Ass

Kick-Ass

had a hard time living up to its name this weekend.

Despite high expectations for the R-rated superhero entry, Matthew Vaughn’s film barely won the box office battle. In fact, it looked on Sunday like Lionsgate’s actioner would place second overall. Fortunately, the final numbers worked in Kick-Ass’ favor…but not by much. Less than $200,000 separated from this week’s chart topper.

Meanwhile, attendance at ‘s services was good enough to get the comedy a fourth place debut. Neil LaBute’s remake of the 2007 British film recovered most of its budget - it cost approximately $21 million to make - with its $16.2 million gross.

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Box Office Breakdown: Titans Disappoints Date Night

Clash of the Titans

Looks like Sunday wasn’t a great day for a .

Despite early predictions that the Steve Carell/Tina Fey laugher would end the weekend with a $27.1 million take and a first place finish, the movie wound up falling slightly short. When the final numbers were turned in, the Shawn Levy-directed comedy had raked in just $25.2 million in ticket sales - positioning it right between and How to Train Your Dragon.

Although Date Night did not come close to surpassing Carell’s personal best (Get Smart opened to $38.7 million in 2008), it did top Fey’s previous high (Baby Mama‘s $17.4 million from 2008).

Meanwhile, the only other entry in this weekend’s Top 10 was a movie that only opened in 897 theaters. - which only grossed $1.1 million and a $1,228 per screen average - helped push Shutter Island and She’s Out of My League off the charts.

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Box Office Breakdown: Titans Rules Over Competition

Clash of the Titans

’ use of 3D may not have been favorably reviewed, but that didn’t keep the remake from conquering the box office.

The Warner Bros. film, which was delayed for a last-minute technology upgrade, officially became the biggest Easter weekend opener to date. Titans’ $61.2 million topped previous holiday champ Scary Movie 4 and bested 1999’s The Matrix to become the best April release ever. (That 1999 film debuted to $27.8 million.)

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Box Office Breakdown: How to Train Your Dragon Soars to #1

How to Train Your Dragon

Jay Baruchel may be dating a girl out of his league, but he’s now got a dragon under his command.

Friday’s premiere of had both Baruchel and Gerard Butler pulling double-duty over the weekend. The animated feature easily surpassed both Out of My League, Bounty Hunter and - most importantly - the reigning champ (Alice in Wonderland) to take the win with a $43.7 million take.

Unfortunately, even higher ticket prices couldn’t lift the 3-D feature past a previous Dreamworks entry. Last March, Monsters vs. Aliens towered over the competition with a $59.3 million bow.

Meanwhile, - the weekend’s only other new wide release - warmed up to a $14 million debut and a third-place finish.

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