'Game Plan' Wins, but Stiller Finds Box-Office Heartbreak

Oct 08, 12:50 AM

Current Headlines: By David Germain

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

There's something about a reunion of Ben Stiller and the Farrelly brothers that audiences didn't want to see.

Stiller and the Farrellys' "The Heartbreak Kid" pulled in a modest $14 million over opening weekend, coming in at No. 2 behind "The Game Plan," which remained the top flick for the second- straight weekend with $16.3 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Paramount and DreamWorks had expected more from "The Heartbreak Kid," which reteamed Stiller with Peter and Bobby Farrelly. The trio collaborated on 1998's smash "There's Something About Mary."

The studios had received positive reaction from audiences at advance screenings, but reviews for "The Heartbreak Kid" came in much harsher than expected, said DreamWorks spokesman Chip Sullivan.

"We were surprised," Sullivan said. "The reviews hurt us. We love the movie. We've seen it play great. But I think reviews do matter on an R-rated movie."

An update of the 1972 comedy written by Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May, "The Heartbreak Kid" stars Stiller as a man who marries an incompatible bride, then meets the perfect woman on his honeymoon.

"The Heartbreak Kid" did manage to come in slightly ahead of the $13.7 million first weekend of "There's Something About Mary," which lingered in theaters for months and became one of 1998's top hits at $176.5 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released today.

1. "The Game Plan," $16.3 million

2. "The Heartbreak Kid," $14 million

3. "The Kingdom," $9.3 million

4. "Resident Evil: Extinction," $4.3 million

5. "The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising," $3.7million

6. "Good Luck Chuck," $3.5 million

7. "Feel the Noise," $3.4 million

8. "3:10 to Yuma," $3 million

9. "The Brave One," $2.3 million

10. "Mr. Woodcock," $2 million

(c) 2007 Daily Breeze. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.