'Dangerous' weekend proves to be a slow one

LOS ANGELES - The Nicolas Cage action-thriller "Bangkok Dangerous" needed just $7.8 million to take the top spot at the box office in what was the slowest movie weekend in seven years, according to studio estimates released Sunday.

The total weekend box office gross was expected to reach just $66 million, slightly less than the $59.5 million reported for the same weekend in September 2001.

"We had no strong holdover from Labor Day weekend to boost the box office," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media by Numbers.

Coming in second was the combat comedy "Tropic Thunder." In third was the Playmate-goes-to-college comedy "The House Bunny."

The slowdown is typical for September, which falls between the big summer blockbuster season and the period when studios begin rolling out offerings primed for Academy Award consideration. It also comes at a time when the fall TV season is gearing up.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. "Bangkok Dangerous," $7.8 million

3. "The House Bunny," $5.9 million

4. "The Dark Knight," $5.7 million

5. "Traitor," $4.7 million

6. "Babylon A.D.," $4 million

7. "Death Race," $3.6 million

9. "Mamma Mia," $2.7 million