News for Jan. 16, 2006

King Kong hits $US200m mark

1/16/06, 2:08 pm EST - Xoanon

LOS ANGELES: New Zealand director Peter Jackson's King Kong passed the $US200 million ($NZ289 million) mark in North American takings at the weekend as it fell four places to No7 at the box office. King Kong earned an estimated $US7.3 million at the weekend to reach $US202.8 million, passing the double century mark in its 33rd day of release. By contrast, another New Zealand-filmed fantasy epic, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, reached the $US200 million mark on its 22nd North American release day. Narnia, directed by Andrew Adamson of Auckland, fell two places to No4 with to $US10.1 million, taking its total tally to $US261.4 million. [More]