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"Dreamgirls" Sing yet "Museum" Takes Xmas Title with $42.3m, "Rocky" Still a Contender

By Jeffrey Jolson-Colburn

HOLLYWOOD-CA (rushprnews)12/27/2007 -- "Dreamgirls" found $8.7 million under the tree on Christmas day alone and "Rocky Balboa" hung in to the final bell with $17.3 million for the four-day holiday weekend, -- yet no one cheered the Christmas crowds like "Night at the Museum." The Stiller-starrer grossed $42.3 million for the Xmas weekend -- followed by another feel-good film, Will Smith's "The Pursuit of Happyness," which earned glad-tidings of $23.1 million.

Five-time Golden Globe nominee "Dreamgirls" had more wishes came true as the nouveau musical earned $9.5 million including special sneaks. It stars actors Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy, yet it is songstresses Beyonce and "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson, that steal the movie.

"Night at the Museum" had an even better Christmas Day with more than $12 million in admissions behind Stiller, supporting funnyman Robin Williams and longtime co-star Own Wilson. Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky Balboa," bucked all the controversy here and elsewhere over the origins of the "Rocky" myth and hung in for a knock-out $17.3 million. The film has only been out for about five days and earned more than the reported $24 million budget.

Families still ruled the roost on Xmas though MGM made a stab at gory yuletide with wanna-be horror franchise "Black Christmas," which only pulled in $3.3 million. Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie shared some yuletide cheer as CIA-origin flick "The Good Shepherd" ushered in $14 million for four days. Supported by scene-stealer Robert DeNiro as well as Andy Garcia, Joe Pesci and William Hurt, the film has star-power to burn well into the New Year.
Mathew McConaughey football film "We Are Marshall" took a hit from rival sports movie "Rocky" and the other luminous competition, turning in about $10 million.

A couple of critters also did well over the holiday weekend as "Charlotte's Web" wove about $9.5 million and the "Eragon" dragon fired up $9 million-plus for a surprising two-week take of $40 million.

Jolson-Colburn is an award-winning journalist and has been editor-in-chief of Inside Hollywood, Grammy Magazine, Grammy Latino and Woodstock.

Permission to re-print or rebroadcast granted provided entertainment newsmagazine Hollywood Today (www.hollywoodtoday.net ) is credited and web address url is listed whenever possible.

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