SUBMITTED BY Kit-Kat

October 17, 2006 — Nicole Sperling reports "Sony Pictures' PG-13 horror film "The Grudge 2" bowed to $20.8 million opening, less then reported Monday, but still handily claimed the top spot for the frame. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Pictures "The Departed" had a stronger-than-initially-reported hold with a $19 million take and a drop of 29%. Universal Pictures' "Man of the Year" opened to $12.3 million, a little under estimates but still good enough for the third spot. Overall, the weekend was up an impressive 26% from last year's opening when "The Fog," released by Sony's Screen Gems, was the top grosser with a scant $11.7 million take. Total films grossed $110.9 million this weekend compared to $87.9 million last year at this time. The other shocker at the boxoffice was Gener8xion Entertainment's "One Night With the King." Bowing in 909 theaters, the film centering on the life of biblical character Queen Esther earned an impressive $4.1 million for a solid per-screen average of $4,518."