Ocean's 13 cons the US box office

Despite a weaker opening than their two previous capers, the boys of Danny Ocean’s gang were back in town to snatch more cash from American cinemagoers in Ocean’s Thirteen.

The estimated $37 million launch is less than either Ocean’s Eleven or Twelve, but it was still enough to launch the crew to the top of the box office in a week when most of the new films failed to ignite much interest.

Which is why Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End was able to cling to the second place spot even as it dropped 52% in its third week to earn $21.3 million. It has, however, just crossed the $250 million mark in total loot. Knocked Up continues to be strong, with healthy word of mouth making this one look to run for a while. It’s now taken in $66 million.

Fourth place went to the second new arrival of the week – animated penguin ‘toon Surf’s Up. Perhaps it suffered from CGI fatigue or maybe people are finally sick of penguins, but this one launched lower than both of Sony’s previous ‘toon army – Open Season and Monster House, earning just $18 million.

That still put it ahead of Shrek The Third for the weekend, as the ogre made $15.7 million, pushing its own total to more than $281 million. Opening in sixth was the latest goresome offering from Eli Roth, Hostel: Part II, which faced a hostile (arf) reaction from cinemagoers and only grabbed $8.7 million.

Kevin Costner’s serial killer drama Mr Brooks sank 50% in its second weekend, dropping to seventh place and making just $5 million for an $18.7 million total to date. At eighth, Spider-Man 3 dropped again, though its $325 million US total means it remains the year’s highest-earning film so far.

And so to the bottom of the charts, where Waitress keeps on serving successful pies despite being in only 708 cinemas and Disturbia prepares for a graceful exit from the charts with $77 million in the bank and a reputation as one of the year’s sleeper success stories.