A film featuring a pampered, talking chihuahua was top dog at the box office this past weekend. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” barked up an estimated $29 million to become the number one movie in the country.
The Disney comedy features celebrity voices like Drew Barrymore as the chihuahua Chloe who gets lost in Mexico and must find her way back home. Other stars lending their voices to the film include Andy Garcia, George Lopez, and Edward James Olmos.
While some critics panned this film as too crass and materialistic, many moviegoers liked the concept enough to spend their hard-earned dollars on it. I think the very cute and funny posters (like the one above) were very successful in selling the film.
Around the Disney studios here in Burbank, several versions of this poster with different catchy slogans were plastered on bus stops for several weeks. I gather the same promotional campaign was used in other places and cities as well; and from the looks of the Box Office numbers and dollars, it worked.
The thriller, “Eagle Eye” took second place with an estimated $17.7 million. It opened in the number one spot last week and has made around $54.6 million. The new teen flick, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” came in third with around $12 million.
The romantic drama, “Nights in Rodanthe” earned an estimated $7 million for fourth. Released two weeks ago, “Nights in Rodanthe” has made around $25 million at movie theaters. It is based on a novel by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks.
Sparks has penned the popular novels, “The Notebook,” and “A Walk to Remember” as well. Both books were made into successful movies. His latest book, “The Lucky One,” was released last month.
Also rounding out the top five at the box office, the western “Appaloosa” with roughly $5 million.
