Editorials > "21" Bests "Leatherheads"

George Clooney's 1920s-set football farce "Leatherheads" came in well-below expectations this weekend, earning a mere $13.5 million and losing the top spot to holdover "21," which made $15.1 million in its second weekend. In a close third place was family adventure-fantasy "Nim's Island" with $13.3 million.

"Leatherheads" is the third film Clooney has directed himself, after "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" and the Oscar-nominated "Good Night, and Good Luck." Both of those earlier films were limited releases, making "Leatherheads" his biggest opening weekend yet, though I don't know that I'd crack the champagne. Variety speculates that negative reviews hurt the film, which is potentially true, but then again, it did better with critics than "21" did, so that logic may not entirely hold up.

4. "Horton Hears a Who!" - $9.1m
5. "The Ruins" - $7.84m
6. "Superhero Movie" - $5.41m
7. "Meet the Browns" - $3.51m
8. "Drillbit Taylor" - $3.5m
9. "Shutter" - $2.88m
10. "10,000 B.C." - $2.77m

-David Morgan

UPDATE: Actually, it's been reported since this was posted that "Leatherheads" only made $12.7 million last weekend, which drops it down to third place below "Nim's Island." More bad news for Clooney and Co.