Looks like Hollywood has only one bullet left in its chamber — "Talladega Nights" hung on to the top spot, but took a 50 percent hit.
It won’t have the legs to catch “Pirates,” so that leaves only the cult-hit-in-the-making “Snakes on a Plane” to challenge. “Snakes” would have to open big, then hold on to its audience the following week, and that looks like a long shot.
It’s never over until the fat lady sings, though, so stay tuned.
Barring some kind of “Snakes on a Plane” or “Talladega Nights” miracle, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest” is certain to emerge as the championship round winner of Summer Movie Madness. In its fifth weekend of release, “Pirates” posted $11 million, edging the $10.7 million posted by “Cars” — well ahead of the other contenders.
All that remains to be seen is which of you Pirate-backers chose the most opening-round winners. (Yes, it could all come down to the few thousand dollars that separated “Little Man” from “You, Me and Dupree.”)
All but one of the opening round matches have been decided, and although it’s possible a decisive winner has emerged already (you’ll know when we know), there is one more remaining opening-rounder to make the results complete — “Snakes” and “World Trade Center.”
All will be known by Aug. 21.