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Monday, April 03, 2006 7:04 AM EDT

'Ice Age: The Meltdown' Melts Box Office Slump



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In its debut week, the animated sequel Ice Age: The Meltdown sold an estimated $70.5 million worth of tickets, distributor 20th Century Fox said on Sunday.

The opening exceeded the News Corp.-owned studio's expectations of about $55 million. Its 2002 predecessor, Ice Age, opened with $46 million, and went on to earn $176 million. The sequel, which features the voices of Ray Romano and John Leguizamo as prehistoric creatures, cost about $80 million to make, Fox said.

Ice Age: The Meltdown earned more than the combined total of the other movies in the top 10. Last weekend's champion, Universal Pictures' heist thriller Inside Man, slipped to No. 2 with $15.7 million. Warner Bros.' urban drama ATL opened at No. 3 with $12.5 million.

As expected, Sharon Stone bombed again, this time with Basic Instinct 2, the belated sequel to her last hit, 1992's Basic Instinct. The erotic thriller earned just $3.2 million, said distributor Columbia Pictures, tying at No. 10 with Lionsgate's comedy Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector.

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Avg. Gross: $9,895 in 3,481 Theaters

Cumulative Total: $34,442,926

Paranormal Activity poster
2

Paranormal Activity (R)

$16,387,327

Avg. Gross: $35,203 in 2,404 Theaters

Cumulative Total: $84,627,372

Law Abiding Citizen poster
3

Law Abiding Citizen (R)

$7,403,630

Avg. Gross: $18,627 in 2,764 Theaters

Cumulative Total: $51,485,280

Couples Retreat poster
4

Couples Retreat (PG-13)

$6,460,525

Avg. Gross: $28,760 in 3,026 Theaters

Cumulative Total: $87,026,280

Where the Wild Things Are poster
5

Where the Wild Things Are (PG)

$5,931,417

Avg. Gross: $17,188 in 3,645 Theaters

Cumulative Total: $62,650,379