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Tropic Thunder knocks The Dark Knight off US top spot

Tropic Thunder

Story by Jack Foley

BEN Stiller’s controversial comedy Tropic Thunder has ended the month-long reign of The Dark Knight at the American box office, by claiming top spot after its release on August 15, 2008.

The farcical combat film, which drew complaints from disabled groups in America, took an estimated $26 million during its first weekend of release, bringing its five-day estimated total from Wednesday’s opening to $37 million, according to distributor Paramount Pictures.

The Dark Knight, meanwhile, slipped to No. 2 with $16.8 million but still managed to break another record on its fifth weekend of release – becoming the second-highest-grossing film ever, according to boxoffice tracking service Media By Numbers.

For the Tropic Thunder crew, however, the No.1 placing will be supremely satisfying for a number of reasons. Firstly, the film performed well in spite of the protests that were staged at the red carpet premiere in LA.

And secondly, it marks Robert Downey Jr’s second top spot of the summer, following his impressive showing with Iron Man in May.

The lucrative films mark a sharp about turn in Downey Jr’s fortunes of late and have confirmed his A-list status now that the former Hollywood hellraiser has got his life in order.

Stiller, meanwhile, can bask in the critical acclaim surrounding the film (many critics have hailed it to be the funniest movie of the summer) and the box office numbers, which pay off the hard work he put in as director, co-writer, co-producer and star.

The comedy is due to open in UK cinemas in September. Find out more

The Dark Knight

Even though Batman’s reign at the box office has finally been brought to an end, the film continues to break new ground in money-making.

The film, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale as Batman and the late Heath Ledger as the villainous Joker in his last completed role, has now taken more than $471 million in US ticket sales, second only to the $601 million grossed by all-time champion Titanic.

And while industry insiders maintain that the film probably won’t beat that record, it’s may well run James Cameron’s Oscar-winner mighty close.

Elsewhere at the American box office, new animated Star Wars movie, The Clone Wars, opened at No. 3 with an estimated $15.5 million.

The film, which is distributed by Warner Bros and backed by George Lucas, is seen as a pre-cursor to a new television series. It does not feature many of the original cast of the Star Wars prequels except Samuel L Jackson and Anthony Daniels.