The sci-fi comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy thumbed a ride into the top spot at the North American box office on Sunday, leaving the XXX action sequel in the dust.
But the surprisingly strong $21.7 million bow by the adaptation of the famed Douglas Adams book, combined with a solid hold for last week's champion, The Interpreter, could not prevent overall ticket sales from falling for the 10th consecutive weekend.
"It's a pretty dismal situation right now," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations yesterday, adding, "There just hasn't been anything to get the public excited."
Hollywood is hoping Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader will come to the rescue on May 19, when Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith opens.
For the year to date, ticket sales are down about five per cent, and attendance is down eight per cent, Dergarabedian said.
The top 12 films this weekend earned $84.8 million, down 10 per cent from the year-ago period, when Mean Girls opened at No. 1.
But the surprisingly strong $21.7 million bow by the adaptation of the famed Douglas Adams book, combined with a solid hold for last week's champion, The Interpreter, could not prevent overall ticket sales from falling for the 10th consecutive weekend.
"It's a pretty dismal situation right now," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations yesterday, adding, "There just hasn't been anything to get the public excited."
Hollywood is hoping Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader will come to the rescue on May 19, when Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith opens.
For the year to date, ticket sales are down about five per cent, and attendance is down eight per cent, Dergarabedian said.
The top 12 films this weekend earned $84.8 million, down 10 per cent from the year-ago period, when Mean Girls opened at No. 1.
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