Happy Feet Keeps Dancing As Hollywood’s Top Film

While many Americans spent the weekend feasting on turkey, penguins again danced their way to the top of the box office.

Thanks to family oriented holiday weekend crowds, “Happy Feet” remained the No. 1 movie with $37.9 million.

Meanwhile James Bond’s latest adventure, “Casino Royale” held onto second place with $31 million.

And then came the new films, led by Disney thriller “Deja Vu,” which stars Denzel Washington as a police officer trying to prevent a deadly ferry explosion to the tune of $20.8 million for the weekend.

On its heels, and kicking off what looks to be a busy holiday season in Hollywood, The 20th Century Fox comedy “Deck the Halls,” with Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito as neighbours feuding over Christmas lights, debuted at No. 4 with $12 million.

And speaking of the holiday season, the film industry could sure use the boost. Though it wasn’t a huge drop, the top 12 movies could only muster $208.1 million from Wednesday to Sunday, a 3.4 per cent dip from 2005 when “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” took in $81 million alone.

To put things in context, the best Thanksgiving period ever was in 2000, when the top 12 films grossed $232.1 million.

But while things were slow in the big budget department, it was a busy weekend in limited release, with Emilio Estevez’s Robert Kennedy story “Bobby,” Darren Aronofsky’s fantasy “The Fountain,” and Jack Black’s musical romp “Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny,” all opening well.

They were all a far cry from Happy Feet, though.

Thanks to stunning computer-animated visuals, a positive environmental statement and pop tunes vocalized by a cast that includes Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Robin Williams, the film had appeal for adults as well as kids.

“I think it’s just a good message, and it’s just well made. And we all like the music,” said Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros.

Here’s the rest of the weekend’s top 10, with all figures estimated according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

1. “Happy Feet,” $37.9 million.

2. “Casino Royale,” $31 million.

3. “Deja Vu,” $20.8 million.

4. “Deck the Halls,” $12 million.

5. “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” $10.4 million.

6. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause,” $10 million.

7. “Stranger Than Fiction,” $6 million.

8. “Flushed Away,” $5.8 million.

9. “Bobby,” $4.9 million.

10. “The Fountain,” $3.7 million.