Your American Box Office

SpngeBob clings tightly to the Top Ten.

Weekend Box Office

1). Chappie (Sony), 3,201 theaters / $4.5M Fri.*/ 3-Day: $13-$13.5M/Wk 1

2). Focus (WB), 3,323 theaters / $2.88M Fri. (-55%)/ 3-Day: $10.483M (-46%)/Total Cume: $35M/Wk 2

3). The Second Exotic Marigold Hotel (FSL), 1,573 theaters / $2.7M Fri./ 3-Day: $9.1M/Wk 1

4). Kingsman: The Secret Service (FOX), 3,101 theaters (-181) / $2.23M Fri. (-26%)/ 3-Day: $8.3M (-30%)/ Total Cume: $98M/ Wk 4

5). The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (PAR), 3,097 theaters (-370) / $1.379M Fri. (-34%)/ 3-Day: $7.16M (-34%)/Total Cume: $147.1M/ Wk 5

6). McFarland USA (DIS), 2,792 theaters (+27)/ $1.47M Fri. (-26%) / 3-Day: $5.48M (-30%)/Total Cume: $29.3M/ Wk 3

7). Fifty Shades Of Grey (UNI/Focus), 2,788 theaters (-595) / $1.77M Fri. (-50%)/ 3-Day: $5.2M (-51%)/Total Cume: $156M/ Wk 4

8). Unfinished Business (Fox), 2,777 theaters / $1.8M Fri.*/ 3-Day: $5.12M/Wk 1

9). The Duff (CBS/LGF), 2,559 theaters (-63)/ $1.526M Fri. (-30%)/ 3-Day: $4.9M (-29%)/Total Cume: $26.05M/ Wk 3

10). The Lazarus Effect (REL), 2,666 theaters (0)/ $1.55M Fri. (-58%)/ 3-Day: $4.65M (-54%)/Total Cume: $16.95M/ Wk 2 ...

A friend proudly pointed out that The SpongeBob Movie is one hand-drawn animated feature that's done exceedingly well at the box office.

Another (more cynical) friend said: "Yeah, there's lots of hand-drawn animation in it, but Paramount advertised the flick as a CG cartoon. You see any ads with the hand-drawn stuff?"

I think we'll continue to see hand-drawn features with well-loved TV characters (Spongie, the Yellow Family), but I don't think there are many hand-drawn animated features coming from our fine, entertainment conglomerates anytime soon.