Sony’s gambling flick “21” held onto the number one spot at the box office for the weekend ending April 6, trumping two big newcomers in the running. The film starring Kevin Spacey and a cast of young actors took in an estimated $15.1 million from 2,653 locations.
Universal’s George Clooney-Renee Zellweger period comedy “Leatherheads” all but tied with 20th Century Fox’s family adventure-fantasy “Nim’s Island” for the number two spot. Directed by and starring Clooney, “Leatherheads” is a romantic comedy set in the early days of pro football. The film grossed an estimated $13.5 million, according to Variety.
“Nim’s Island,” starring Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler and Abigail Breslin grossed an estimated $13.3 million from 3,513 theaters. The film gives Fox its second family title in the top five after “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!,” which placed fourth with $9.1 million. Finishing at No. 5 was the horror film “The Ruins” (Paramount), with $7.8 million on its opening weekend.
In more limited play, Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones concert documentary “Shine A Light,” from Paramount Classics, grossed an estimated $1.5 million from 276 locations, with 93 of those being large format Imax theaters. Per location average was $5,475, with $1.1 million of the gross coming from Imax theaters, which charge more per ticket. Paramount Classics has no immediate plans for expanding “Shine A Light,” Variety reported.
Overall, the domestic box office was down 23.1 percent over the same time frame in 2007, although that decline is slightly mitigated by Easter falling on that weekend last year. Through Sunday, year-to-date revenues slipped behind the same time period in 2007 by 1.75 percent after running ahead for much of 2008.
| Rank | Title | Weekend | Total Gross |
| 1 | 21 (2008) | $15.1 M | $45.5 M |
| 2 | Leatherheads (2008) | $13.5 M | $13.5 M |
| 3 | Nim’s Island (2008) | $13.3 M | $13.3 M |
| 4 | Horton Hears a Who! (2008) | $9.1 M | $131 M |
| 5 | The Ruins (2008) | $7.84 M | $7.84 M |
