Chicken Little Rules the Box Office

Exceeding all expectations, CHICKEN LITTLE, Disney’s first full 3D-animated feature, debuted with an impressive $40M for the weekend ended Nov. 6, 2005. It marks the best opening for a Disney animated feature since LILO & STITCH’S $35.3M back in 2002. Apparently even adults flocked to the movie. In addition, the launch of CHICKEN LITTLE in digital 3D proved very promising as well, turning in an estimated $2.1M in 85 U.S. locations. Universal’s JARHEAD (with vfx from ILM) debuted in second with a strong $27.7M. Lion’s Gate’s SAW II (with vfx from C.O.R.E.) slipped to third with $16.8M and $60.1M so far. Following in the fourth spot was THE LEGEND OF ZORRO (with vfx from Peerless Camera Co. and Digiscope).

The Sony sequel carved out $10M for a two-week cume of $30.3M. Fifth place belonged to Universal’s PRIME, which tallied $5.1M and $13.3M. DreamWorks’ DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY (with vfx by Hammerhead) came in sixth with $4.7M and $23.8M. Shooting up the chart to seventh with $3M was Warner Independent Picture’s GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.

The George Clooney-directed feature has a cume of $10.9M. Paramount’s THE WEATHER MAN occupied the eighth spot with $2.8M and $8.6M. Buena Vista’s SHOPGIRL rose to ninth with $2.5M and a cume of $3.4M. Holding at10th was Buena Vista’s FLIGHTPLAN (with vfx Lola Visual Effects and Peerless Camera Co.), which turned in $2.2M for a cume of $84.4M. Box office information obtained from boxofficemojo.com.