BOX OFFICE Italy
Natale a New York on top, Muccino hits US jackpot
by Camillo de Marco
18/12/2006 - For once, Italian cinema reigns both at home and abroad.
Three out of the top four films at the weekend’s Italian box office are domestic titles, while more good news has arrived from the US. The Pursuit of Happyness, the first Hollywood production by Italy’s Gabriele Muccino, hit the US box office jackpot – grossing over €27m – to become last weekend’s most-seen film.
The Pursuit of Happyness, which will be released in Italy on January 12, recently received two 2007 Golden Globe nominations, for Best Actor (Will Smith) and Best Soundtrack.
In Italy, the first round of the Christmas showdown was won by Natale a New York. With its €3.7m at the box office, the film pulled in over twice the amount of rival title Olé by the Vanzina brothers, which topped off at €1.5m.
Third place went to US film Deja Vu, the only other title to exceed the €1m mark, while the third Italian holiday film, Alessandro D'Alatri’s Commediasexi [trailer] (distributed by 01), had excellent results with nearly €600,000.
Last week, Patrice Leconte’s comedy My Best Friend [trailer] (which had its world theatrical premiere in Italy on December 6) did very well at the French box office, totaling €300,000 in five days and registering the best per screen average.
(Translated from Italian)
