Two comedies fought it out at the movie box office for the weekend ending April 20, but in the end the martial arts spoof “Forbidden Kingdom” edged the Judd Apatow-produced comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” at theaters. The fantasy-kung fu film, which paired Jackie Chan and Jet Li for the first time, took in $20.9 million, according to estimates released Monday on numerous online sites.
The “Forbidden Kingdom” plot involves a discovery made by a kung fu obsessed American teen which sends him on an adventure to China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors in order to free the imprisoned “Monkey King.” The debut of “Forbidden Kingdom” was about $4 million more than expected, helping to push the movie past “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” which also beat projections with a $17.3 million haul. “Kingdom’s victory came despite Apatow’s popular raunchy style of comedy and a savvy ad blitz that included billboard-sized hate notes to Sarah Marshall that drew thousands to Universal Pictures’ website,” USA Today reported.
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is billed as “the ultimate romantic comedy disaster movie.” Its plotline revolves around a devastated Peter who takes a Hawaii vacation in order to deal with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend. Little does he know Sarah’s traveling to the same resort as her ex … and she’s bringing along her new boyfriend.
The horror film “Prom Night” fell to third place with $9.1 million, while the debut of the Al Pacino crime thriller “88 Minutes” took fourth place with $6.8 million. The Jodie Foster family fantasy “Nim’s Island” took fifth with $5.7 million. The low-budget documentary “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” took the ninth spot with $3.2 million, meeting its modest projections.
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Box Office Grosses
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| Rank | Title | Weekend | Total Gross |
| 1 | The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) | $20.9 M | $20.9 M |
| 2 | Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) | $17.3 M | $17.3 M |
| 3 | Prom Night (2008) | $9.1 M | $32.6 M |
| 4 | 88 Minutes (2007) | $6.8 M | $6.8 M |
| 5 | Nim’s Island (2008) | $5.65 M | $32.9 M |
| 6 | 21 (2008) | $5.5 M | $70 M |
| 7 | Street Kings (2008) | $4 M | $19.9 M |
| 8 | Horton Hears a Who! (2008) | $3.5 M | $144 M |
| 9 | Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008) | $3.15 M | $3.15 M |
| 10 | Leatherheads (2008) | $3.02 M | $26.6 M |
