Posted: Fri., May 30, 2008, 6:15pm PT

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'Sex' to earn $20 million Friday

Projected gross best yet for a romantic comedy

Breaking all the rules about chick flicks, New Line and Warner Bros.' bigscreen adaptation "Sex and the City" is expected to gross at least $20 million in its opening day, a sum usually reserved for male-driven event films or family fare.

Friday's projected gross marks the best opening day number ever for a romantic comedy. Twentieth Century Fox's 2006 summer hit, "The Devil Wears Prada," nabbed $9.4 million on its opening Friday and $27.5 million for that weekend.

Heading into this weekend, Paramount holdover "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" had the advantage. Now, the race for the weekend crown could be much closer, with the possibility of a "Sex and the City" upset.

Women, particularly women over 25, aren't usually synonymous with big box-office openings. "Sex and the City," rated R and playing on 3,285 screens, is a lusty exception.

Women and their friends bought advance tickets for the film throughout this week, resulting in sold-out Friday shows in many top markets.

It's been four years since "Sex and the City" ended its run on HBO. Directed and written by Michael Patrick King -- an alum of the TV series -- the feature film reunites the original cast.

Warners took over distribution of "Sex and the City" after Time Warner dismantled New Line as a standalone studio and made it a label within the Warner Bros. fold.

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2009 Award Contenders
We don't pretend to know who will emerge as the winners in this awards season. However, every year has its frontrunners and dark horses and we already have a pretty good idea of who they will be. Here's our take on the top five categories.


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