'Express' finds success at box office

Sony comedy edges WB's 'Knight' on Friday

By ANTHONY D'ALESSANDRO

Sony’s R-rated stoner comedy “Pineapple Express” continued to top the domestic box office Friday as it grossed $7.8 million from 3,072 theaters, but Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight" was fast closing in, grossing $7.5 million from 4,025.

Since opening Wednesday, “Pineapple” has raked in $25.9 million to place No. 1 at the domestic box office for three days in a row. Wednesday’s second wide entry, Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment's sequel “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” also has enjoyed a strong bow. Girl pic placed No. 4 on Friday, grossing $3.9 million at 2,707 for a cume of $12.8 million.

"Dark Knight" declined a slim 41% from the previous Friday, and could win the weekend for the fourth frame in a row.

The No. 3 spot at the Friday B.O. belonged to Universal’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” which declined 68% from its opening Friday to $4.8 million from 3,778 for an eight-day total of $59.4 million.

Sony’s other R-rated laffer, “Step Brothers,” nabbed fifth place with $2.7 million from 3,182, down 47% in its third Friday, for a total running domestic take of $74.7 million.

Miramax’s period pic “Brideshead Revisited” showed a 10% dip in its third Friday after increasing its theater count from 189 to 349. After posting $265,000 yesterday, the 15-day total for “Brideshead” currently stands at $2.5 million.

Bollywood pic “Singh is Kinng” from Studio 18 proved to be the most impressive arthouse entry Friday, bowing to $354,000 at 112 sites.

Third Rail releasing’s motorcycle actioner “Hell Ride” starring Dennis Hopper revved up $32,000 from 82 locales.

Samuel Goldwyn’s Ben Kingsley-Penelope Cruz drama, “Elegy” about a professor’s troubled affair with a student, chalked up $26,000 from six theaters or a site average of $4,360.