‘Step Up’ Poised For Box Office Upset

First Published: August 12, 2006 5:08 PM EDT Credit: Touchstone Pictures

Caption Step Up

-- LOS ANGELES (August 12, 2006) — So much for all that talk that Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center” would be the #1 movie in the wake of the latest terrorist threat.

Looks like this weekend’s box office champ will be…”Step Up.”

The teen dance movie, starring Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum, took the top spot on Friday with $8.7 million (according to Exhibitor Relations)-- much more than expected, especially considering the absence of big name stars. Nevertheless, never under-estimate the power of the teen audience!

The movie most industry pundits expected to hold onto the top spot, Will Ferrell’s “Talladega Nights,” will likely come in second over the weekend after making $7.2 million on Friday.

But “World Trade Center” made $5.9 million on Friday, meaning that it will probably finish the weekend with around $18 million — decent, within pre-release projections and, amazingly, not at all affected by the latest terrorist threat.

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