The summer of the three-quel had its last gasp this weekend, as the third-in-the-series Resident Evil: Extinction won the box office with $24 million in receipts. The Jessica Alba-Dane Cook romantic comedy, Good Luck Chuck, came in second with $14 million.
But the independent films are singing a small but mighty song of their own, as well. Several had strong expansions: David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises catapulted into fifth place with $5.7 million - earning a $4,000/theater average, Across the Universe climbed to 13th place with a $7,000/theater average and In the Valley of Elah hit 17th place with a $4,000/theater average.
And although Into the Wild and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford both did very limited opens this week, they clearly filled their houses--earning a $51,700/theater average and $28,800/theater average respectively.