Dark Knight Smokes Box Office Once Again

Pineapple Express took some strong puffs against a burning box office this weekend, but couldn't inhale enough to beat out The Dark Knight. With a staying power very few movies enjoy these days, the Batman sequel dropped only 40% from last weekend, bringing in $26 million and holding on to the number one spot for a rare fourth weekend in a row.

The Dark Knight is within firing range of shooting down Star Wars as the second all-time money maker and will likely top its $461 million total this week. Rumblings that the film, now sitting at $441 million, will match or beat Titanic's number one $600 million record are still far-fetched, but not impossible.

Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen's pot-filled action/comedy flick opened on Wednesday, not making many waves but starting out as strong as some of their other ventures like Superbad and Knocked Up. With $22 million stashed on the weekend and just over $40 million since opening, Pineapple Express has covered its budget and is all set to line the studio's pockets for the next couple of weeks.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 saw a lukewarm reception. It took fourth place this weekend with $10 million, bringing the total to $19 million since Wednesday's opening. Like Pineapple Express it managed a low $27 million budget, putting it within range to make its bank by Wednesday and making it another easy winner for the WB this summer.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE TOP TEN August 8 - 10, 2008

LW = Last Week WR = Weeks Released THTRS = Number of Screens * Denotes new release.

1. The Dark Knight $26,030,000 - Total: $441,541,000 LW: 1 WR: 4 THTRS: 4025

2. Pineapple Express * $22,400,000 - Total: $40,474,000 LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 3072

3. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor $16,113,000 - Total: $70,671,000 LW: 2 WR: 2 THTRS: 3778

4. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 * $10,770,000 - Total: $19,712,000 LW: N WR: 1 THTRS: 2707

5. Step Brothers $8,900,000 - Total: $80,903,000 LW: 3 WR: 3 THTRS: 3182

6. Mamma Mia! $8,081,000 - Total: $104,017,000 LW: 4 WR: 4 THTRS: 3194

7. Journey to the Center of the Earth $4,855,000 - Total: $81,759,000 LW: 5 WR: 5 THTRS: 1970

8. Hancock $3,300,000 - Total: $221,709,000 LW: 7 WR: 6 THTRS: 2258

9. Swing Vote $3,106,000 - Total: $12,002,000 LW: 6 WR: 2 THTRS: 2213

10. Wall-E $3,045,000 - Total: $210,112,000 LW: 8 WR: 7 THTRS: 2144

Source: CinemaBlend.com