Weekend box office

A couple of noteworthy performances distinguish an otherwise lackluster commercial weekend, as the low-budget June release from New Zealand, “Whale Rider,” passed $20 million. A more recent standout, Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation,” expanded to nearly 500 theaters in its third weekend and held onto the No. 10 position with $3.7 million. It’s all the more impressive when you consider that “Translation” is in fewer than half the number of venues of the only film in the top 10 with a higher per-theater average, “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Both movies will add theaters this weekend.

R. Kinsey Lowe

*--* MOVIE 3-DAY GROSS TOTAL(MILL) VENUES AVG/VENUE WKS

1 The Rundown $18.5 $18.5 3,152 $5,880 1 (Universal)

2 Under the $9.8 $9.8 1,226 $7,954 1 Tuscan Sun (Buena Vista)

3 Underworld $9.4 $37.0 2,928 $3,217 2 (Sony)

4 Secondhand Lions $8.3 $23.5 3,038 $2,718 2 (New Line Cinema)

5 The Fighting $6.4 $20.1 2,026 $3,153 2 Temptations (Paramount)

6 Once Upon a $5.0 $49.0 2,922 $1,713 3 Time in Mexico (Sony)

7 Duplex $4.6 $4.6 2,189 $2,109 1 (Miramax)

8 Cold Creek Manor $4.4 $14.6 2,035 $2,165 2 (Buena Vista)

9 Matchstick Men $4.3 $30.7 2,666 $1,633 3 (Warner Bros.)

10 Lost in $3.7 $8.6 488 $7,558 3 Translation (Focus Features)

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Source: Nielsen EDI Inc.