'American Gangster' blasts box office
Universal's crime drama sets a new record
By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK
Universal's Denzel Washington-Russell Crowe starrer "American Gangster" smacked the weekend box office, becoming the highest grossing R-rated crime-drama in history. Pollination of DreamWorks Animation's "Bee Movie" combined to give the film biz its first honey-sweet frame in nearly two months.
Directed by Ridley Scott and produced by Imagine Entertainment, "Gangster" grossed an estimated $46.3 million from 3,054 locations, outpacing expectations and easily beating "Bee" for the No. 1 spot. It's the best opening for both Crowe and Washington, as well as the highest opener of the fall to date.
"Bee Movie" -- voiced, co-written and produced by Jerry Seinfeld -- still had plenty to buzz about, debuting at $39.1 million from 3,928 theaters, a solid opening, but somewhat behind what DreamWorks Animation-Paramount had hoped for. Toon, coming in No. 2 for the weekend, is Seinfeld's first major outing since his hit television series.
Thesp did plenty of tub-thumping for "Bee," whose bow came in just behind "Chicken Little," which bowed at $40 million in November 2005, and "Happy Feet," which opened at $41.5 million last November.
Variety
