Sorry, Zohan. It's a panda that eats, shoots, and leaves.
DreamWorks Animation's
The two films easily beat out recent chart-toppers Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Sex and the City. That's only natural, particularly now during the summer celluloid season where it seems as if the potential blockbusters are coming out on a weekly basis.
Will the computer-rendered martial arts tribute for kids topple Indy or Marvel's
$60 million in ticket sales over three days may not seem like much, but it's actually the studio's biggest opening for a non-sequel film. The original Shrek and Madagascar entries delivered $42.3 million and $47.2 million respectively, and they have each gone on to birth sequels. DreamWorks Animation has been looking for a third hit franchise, in order to fill its production slate with lay-up sequels annually by tapping the properties every third year. It probably has its third musketeer right here.
Kung Fu Panda handily topped last year's Bee Movie and 2006's Over the Hedge, the studio's moderately successful films that failed to top the $40 million mark during their weekend debuts.
The film's success isn't just good news for DreamWorks Animation. Exhibitors like Regal
Another big winner is IMAX
You go, Panda. Show Zohan who the boss is.
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