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Shrek 2 overpowered the new disaster picture The Day After Tomorrow to retain the crown at the North American box office during the first three days of the US Memorial Day holiday weekend.
According to studio estimates, the cartoon sequel sold about US$73.1 million ($116 million) worth of tickets, while The
Day After Tomorrow opened with US$70 million. Far off in the distance, Troy slipped one place to No 3 with US$11.5 million, while the Kate Hudson domestic comedy Raising Helen opened with a modest US$11.2 million. The comedy Soul Plane, starring Snoop Dogg, crashed on take-off, selling just US$5.7 million of tickets in its first weekend.
After 12 days, Shrek 2 has grossed US$237.8 million, having raced past the US$200 million mark on Friday, its 10th day. Only Spider-Man did it faster, taking nine days in 2002.
The Day After Tomorrow opened in 102 other countries, taking in US$82.1 million, driving the worldwide total to US$152.1 million. After 17 days, the total for Troy rose to $US106.1 million. The holiday did not appear to do much for the film, which lost a hefty 52 per cent of its audience from last weekend.
