'Semi-Pro' dribbles to #1

Despite making a lay-up for the top box office spot Friday, New Line’s “Semi-Pro” scored low among Will Ferrell’s laffers, grossing $5.4 million in 3,121 theaters.

Receiving no assist from its R rating, the first Friday for “Semi-Pro” is just shy of the $6.2 million generated by 2003’s “Old School,” also rated R. Typically Ferrell’s top comedies, thanks to their PG-13 rating, have posted respectable first days, i.e. 2004’s “Anchorman,” ($10.8 million), 2006’s “Talladega Nights” ($18.0 million) and last spring’s “Blades of Glory” ($12.4 million).

Despite its weak Friday, “Semi-Pro” is expected to keep its game up for the No. 1 spot throughout this weekend.

Posting a 53% drop from a week ago, Sony’s “Vantage Point” lost sight of some Friday auds, but that didn’t stop the thriller from clipping second place with $3.7 million from 3,150 locales and a running eight-day tally of $31.7 million.

Ranking third Friday was another Sony film, the Natalie Portman-Scarlett Johansson period pic “The Other Boleyn Girl,” luring in $2.8 million on its first day from 1,166 theaters.

Fox-Regency’s “Jumper” landed in fourth with $2.2 million from 3,128, a 42% tumble from a week ago. In the midst of its third frame, the Doug Liman helmed-actioner has generated $61.4 million in domestic coin.

Par’s “The Spiderwick Chronicles” weaved its way into fifth place, spinning up $1.9 million from 3,654, a 36% downtick and a domestic B.O. of $48.2 million.

The weekend’s other new entry, Summit’s Christina Ricci-James McAvoy topliner “Penelope” fell outside of the day’s top five, grossing $1.1 million last off 1,196. However, the PG-rated pic’s business could uptick today among younger girls.

Coming off its Oscar best picture win, Miramax’s “No Country for Old Men” saw an 82% hike in its Friday B.O. thanks to its theatrical expansion from 1,101 to 2,037. The Coen Brothers’ film nabbed $1 million, raising its domestic cume to $66.6 million.

Among frosh specialty fare yesterday, Paulo Morelli’s “City of Men” scored $35,000 from 75 hardtops. The Brazilian gangsta film is a companion piece to Fernando Meirelles’ epic “City of God” which was nominated for four 2003 Oscars.

Source: Variety