Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 11, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
With 255,000 cinema admissions on its opening weekend, the heroic epic goes straight to the top of the media control cinema charts. The film opened more weakly than other Emmerich blockbusters such as “Independence Day” (1996), “Godzilla” (1998) or “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004). The most successful was “Independence Day”, with almost 1.92 million opening-weekend viewers. To gain greater respect from his tribe and win the heart of his beloved Evolet (Camille Belle), hunter E’Leh (Steven Strait) battles a herd of mammoths and enemy warriors single-handedly.
The fantasy adventure, which swallowed 140 million dollars in production costs, pushes “Die wilden Kerle 5: Hinter dem Horizont” (180,000 viewers) from the top spot down to fourth place. “Unsere Erde – Der Film” is in second place. The BBC documentary drew 243,000 interested viewers to cinemas.
New entry “Step Up To The Streets” lands in third place. With 181,000 viewers, the dance film opens better than its predecessor “Step Up” (2006). The first instalment was seen by 122,000 viewers on its opening weekend. Young Andie (Briana Evigan) is accepted into an elite school but encounters resistance everywhere because of her unusual street-style dancing. Together with fellow student Chase (Robert Hoffman), she forms her own dance crew to take part in competitions.
