Saw Makes the Cut...

"I'm told that Lionsgate's Saw III cut through the competition by opening huge with $14 million Friday and $11.3 million Saturday (down 19% from the previous night) from 3,167 theaters for what was a $33.4 weekend. That massive debut was better than Saw II (which earned $12.1 mil its first day out for a $31.7 mil weekend). Disney's holdover from last week The Prestige, dropped from #2 Friday ($2.9 mil, -43% from last) to #3 after Saturday ($4.1 mil) for what was a $9.4 mil weekend and a new cume of $28.6 mil. Instead, 2nd best went to Warner Bros. holdover The Departed, stretching its legs for its fourth weekend and increasing its Best Picture/Best Director Oscar chances (because Academy voters always take note of how popular possible contenders are with the public)."In 4th place was Paramount /Dreamworks' holdover Flags Of Our Fathers with $1.9 mil on Friday (down 46%), and $2.8 mil Saturday. Though critically lauded, the Clint Eastwood-directed war movie with no stars continues to be a box office disappointment; it had only a $6.3 mil weekend and a new cume of just $19.9 mil. Even after five weeks out, Sony's first homegrown animated pic Open Season continues to outperform expectations for No. 5, earning $1.4 mil Friday and $2.3 mil Saturday (that kiddie bounce) for a strong $5.5 mil weekend and a cume around $76.7 mil. Fox's family friendly holdover Flicka made $1.4 million Friday (down 44%) and $2 mil Saturday for #6. That was a $4.9 mil weekend and cume of about $14 mil. Universal's Man Of The Year, after three weeks out, expanded its theater count to earn $1.4 mil Friday and $2.2 mil Saturday for 7th place and a $4.7 mil weekend and cume around $28.8 mil -- disappointing for a Robin Williams starrer.-Nikki Finke