Blockbuster '10,000 B.C.' has a mammoth week

March 9, 2008 at 9:57PM

LOS ANGELES - The prehistoric adventure "10,000 B.C." topped the weekend box office with $35.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Warner Bros. visual effects spectacle, which follows a band of people struggling to survive amid woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers and human marauders, also took in $25.3 million in 20 overseas markets where it began rolling out Wednesday.

"10,000 B.C." came in well behind the openings of past blockbusters from director Roland Emmerich, whose films include "Independence Day," "Godzilla" and "The Day After Tomorrow." "Those movies opened up in the summer. We're very strong for this time of year," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner.

Opening in second place was Disney's Martin Lawrence comedy "College Road Trip," which pulled in $14 million. Lawrence stars as an overprotective dad who tags along with his daughter (Raven-Symoné) on her girls- only trek to choose a college.

The previous weekend's top flick, the basketball comedy "Semi-Pro" starring Will Ferrell, tumbled to fourth place with $5.8 million. That brought its 10-day total to $24.7 million, a poor showing for a Ferrell comedy.

Overall business was off compared with the same time frame a year ago. The top 12 movies took in $91.8 million, down 34 percent from the same weekend last year. It was the fourth straight weekend that revenues fell.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. "10,000 B.C.," $35.7 million

2. "College Road Trip," $14 million

3. "Vantage Point," $7.5 million

4. "Semi-Pro," $5.8 million

5. "The Bank Job," $5.7 million

6. "The Spiderwick Chronicles," $4.8 million

7. "The Other Boleyn Girl," $4 million

8. "Jumper," $3.8 million

9. "Step Up 2 the Streets," $3 million

10. "Fool's Gold," $2.8 million

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