Horton Hears a Hit

While animated fare is known for its long legs at the box office, “Horton’s” hold reps the best for a Twentieth Century Fox-Blue Sky title, outstripping the 43% thaw charted by “Ice Age’s” second Friday in March 2002. In its first eight days, “Horton” has collected close to $72 million in domestic peanuts.

After “Horton,” moviegoers became acquainted with Lionsgate’s “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns,” shelling out $8.1 million at 2,006 hardtops. The opening day for the multi-hyphenate’s comedy-drama ranks second behind the $10.5 million charted by his February 2006 pic “Madea’s Family Reunion.”

In third, Fox-New Regency’s PG-13 horror entry “Shutter” opened to $4.6 million at 2,753, while the Owen Wilson headliner “Drillbit Taylor,” distributed by Paramount, excavated $4 million from 3,056 venues for fourth.

While the onslaught of new competition forced Warner Bros.’ “10,000 BC” into fifth place, the Roland Emmerich epic’s domestic b.o. evolved past the $70 million mark, trapping $3.1 million from 3,454, down 37% in its third Friday.

Via Variety