Adam Sandler’s ‘Funny People’ Laughs Up $23.4M

First Published: August 2, 2009 12:04 PM EDT Credit:

Caption Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler in “Funny People”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Movie audiences have taken a liking to Adam Sandler’s more serious side.

Sandler’s “Funny People” grabbed the top spot at the weekend box office with a $23.4 million debut.

The film stars Sandler as a terminally ill comedy star. Seth Rogen co-stars as an up-and-coming comic who signs on as Sandler’s assistant and joke writer.

Coming in second for the weekend was “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” with $17.7 million. “G-Force,” last weekend’s top movie, slipped to third with $17.1 million.

It was a modest weekend for Hollywood compared with last summer. A year ago, “The Dark Knight” continued its reign with a $42.7 million weekend, followed by “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” with $40.5 million.

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