Sorkin's "Charlie Wilson's War" edged out "Sweeney" in the first weekend of release (Dec. 21-25) to place fourth and fifth, respectively. The Mike Nichols-directed film starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman held its position again Dec. 28-30 (adding $11.7 million to its now-$34.5 million total on 2,575 screens).
Over the Dec. 28 weekend, the sequel "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" took in $35.6 million to be the No. 1 earner, followed by "Alvin and the Chipmunks" ($30 million) and "I Am Legend" ($27.5 million).
"Sweeney Todd" held ninth place this weekend, with an additional $8 million. It's being shown in approximately a third of the movie houses as the top three films — playing on 1,249 screens compared to "Treasure" on 3,832; "Alvin" on 3,484; and "Legend" on 3,636. "Sweeney" has so far reaped $26.7 million.
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Even before the official release, "Sweeney Todd" had garnered much acclaim. The movie based on the Stephen Sondheim musical was among 2007's top ten films for the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, Time Magazine and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society. "Sweeney Todd" was also nominated for Critics' Choice Awards (Best Picture, Acting Ensemble, Actor - Johnny Depp, Director and Young Actor - Edward Sanders) and Golden Globes (Picture, Director, Actor - Depp, Actress - Helena Bonham Carter). John Logan ("The Aviator," "Gladiator," Never the Sinner) penned the DreamWorks/Warner Bros. film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical.
The film stars Depp as the title barber, Helena Bonham Carter as piemaker Mrs. Lovett as well as Alan Rickman (Private Lives), Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron Cohen. The ensemble also features Laura Michelle Kelly (Fiddler on the Roof), Jamie Campbell Bowen, Jayne Wisener and newcomer Edward Sanders. For more information visit sweeneytoddmovie.com.
