BOX OFFICE: Magic opening for THE PRESTIGE

tricked the analysts this weekend by toping the box office charts. The movie starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale took in an estimated $14.8 million from 2,500 screens. Credit must go to Christopher Nolan and his success with Batman Begins...he is really starting to make a name for himself mainstream. The movie expected to come in at first instead came in at third as Clint Eastwood'sFlags of our Fathers took in a lackluster $10.2 million from 2,500 screens. Lack of a huge star for audiences to get behind in a war picture could be the main reason for this. The Departed stayed in second place, a fantastic achievement from Scorsese's picture in it's third week to beat out Eastwood's film. The movie has now taken over $77 million. Will the battle of the two heavyweights continue come Oscar time like it did last year with The Aviator and Million Dollar Baby??? Elsewhere then Flicka debuted at 5 with a disapointing $7.7 million opening and Marie Antoinette opened at 8 but was only shown in 859 cinemas for it's first week. The Grudge 2 as expected droped 63% to take in $7.7 million which still leaves the movie well in the profit margin but might not be good enough for a third film (THANK GOD!) Estimated top ten for weekend of October 20-22: Title Weekend Gross Budget 1. The Prestige - $14,818,000 ($14,818,00) ($40,000,000) 2. The Departed - $13,675,000 ($77,148,000) ($90,000,000) 3. Flags of Our Fathers - $10,200,000 ($10,200,000) ($90,000,000) 4. Open Season - $8,000,000 ($69,602,000) ($85,000,000) 5. Flicka - $7,700,000 ($7,700,000) ($15,000,000) 6. The Grudge 2 - $7,700,000 ($31,380,000) ($20,000,000) 7. Man of the Year - $7,035,000 ($22,516,000) budget undisclosed 8. Marie Antoinette - $5,300,000 ($5,300,000) ($40,000,000) 9. TCM: The Beginning - $3,875,000 ($35,984,000) ($16,000,000) 10. The Marine - $3,725,000 ($12,547,000) budget undisclosed OPENING NEXT WEEK: Saw III (puke), Babel (limited), Catch a Fire, Death of a President (limited), Shut Up and Sing source - box office mojo