It was assumed by most box-office prognosticators that Grindhouse, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's sprawling homage to '70s exploitation movies, would lay waste to the competition on opening weekend, but the country that embraced Norbit and Wild Hogs apparently felt it beneath them. Limping into fourth with a $11.6 million take—not even the Weinsteins could massage that number, it appears—the film seems destined for minor cult status, which is probably a more appropriate fate anyway. But Grindhouse was just one of several new releases that withered before last week's champs, Blades Of Glory and Meet The Robinsons, which again finished one-two with $23 million and $17 million, respectively. Other underperformers include the faith-horror laugher The Reaping (5th, $10 million) and the pitiful family film Firehouse Dog, which rounded out the Top 10 with $4 million.
In limited release, A.V. Club favorite Black Book opened strong in nine theaters with a $13,000 per-screen-average and will undoubtedly roll out to bigger dividends in the coming weeks.
For more detailed numbers, visit Box Office Mojo.