'Pirates' Plummets; 'Knocked Up' Delivers

Ah, that opening weekend can be a cruel master. Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End took the top spot again this weekend with $43.2 million, but the movie declined 62 percent from its first weekend of release. The drop was similiar to what Spider-Man 3 experienced earlier this month, reiterating the fact a movie has basically have one weekend to assert itself with audiences before it begins to fade. However, the big news this weekend was Universal's Knocked Up, with its stronger-than-expected $29.3 million opening. Moviegoers were 57% female and 2/3 couples, Variety says, and Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that exit polling showed that actress Katherine Heigl was a big part of the overall draw, behind comedy and story. Shrek the Third was third with $26.7 million. MGM's Mr. Brooks claimed the fourth spot with $10 million and Spider-Man 3 showed its legs in the fifth spot with $7.5 million.

Not needing expensive CGI or A-list stars to succeed, low-budget comedy continues to be one of the best bets for the studios. Knocked Up, from writer/director Judd Apatow, was made for a reported $30 million, and Uni has to be pleased with the results. On the heels of Knocked Up's success, Apatow has announced another project he'll be producing called Year One, which will star Jack Black. Comedy legend Harold Ramis will direct for Columbia, which will release Apatow's Superbad later this summer.

As mentioned before, this weekend was sequel-less, and after four consecutive up weekends, overall box office was down this weekend compared to last year. The estimated total for the top 12 films was $124.7 million, down 3% from $129.2 million last year, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The estimated total for all films released this weekend is about $130 million, down slighly from $135.8 million from this period in 2006.

[Photo: Knocked Up's Katherine Heigl by Everett Collection]