Pirates kept pillaging the movie box office over the weekend, but monsters scared up plenty of business as well.
Walt Disney Co.'s "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" became the fastest film in history to pass $300 million in the U.S. and Canada, grossing an estimated $35 million in its third weekend.
The action comedy became the first movie of the year to top the charts three straight times, a rarity in today's high-turnover market.
Sony Pictures' "Monster House" finished second, opening best among a quartet of major new releases. It grossed a better-than-expected $23 million, according to studio estimates.
M. Night Shyamalan's "Lady in the Water" was the highest-profile disappointment, finishing third overall with $18.2 million for Warner Bros.
Industrywide, weekend ticket sales rose 8.9% from a year ago, thanks partly to the unseasonable West Coast heat wave that sent consumers scurrying into air-conditioned multiplexes.
"When the heat gets this oppressive, there's a very inviting piece of real estate called the movie theater," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of industry tracker Exhibitor Relations Co. in Encino.
Disney executives said "Pirates" was on pace to quickly overtake 2003's animated classic "Finding Nemo" as the studio's highest-grossing picture ever.
"This is a testament to the positive word of mouth," said Chuck Viane, Disney's president of distribution. "When you're at this level of gross, you're reaching the people who only go to the movies once or twice a year."
"Pirates" has already passed its predecessor, 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." The first installment grossed $305.4 million in the U.S. and Canada during its entire run.
The latest "Pirates" topped the $300-million mark in 16 days, out-sprinting last year's "Star Wars: Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith," which did the trick in 17 days. "Pirates" has generated $321.7 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales, placing it 16th on the industry's all-time list.
The movie is likely to become only the seventh ever to top $400 million, but it would have to show stunning stamina to approach the all-time record of $600.8 million, held by "Titanic."
The picture continued at 4,133 theaters, averaging $8,480 per location.
Outside the U.S. and Canada, "Pirates" grossed an estimated $62 million over the weekend, bringing its worldwide total to $539 million. The movie opened in Japan and Latin America but still has 40% of world markets in front of it.
