Despite complaints from disability groups, Tropic Thunder finished at #1

DreamWorks and Paramount’s big-budget comedy “Tropic Thunder” topped the weekend box office in grossing an estimated $26 million from 3,319 theaters for a five-day opening cume of $37 million.

The R-rated comedy skewed older, with a hefty 57% of the aud over the age of 25.

Warner Bros.’ Batman sequel “The Dark Knight” also was victorious in officially becoming the second highest grossing pic of all time domestically, surpassing the original “Star Wars.” For the weekend, “Dark Knight” grossed an estimated $16.8 million from 3,590 runs for a cume of $471.5 million in just 30 days.

Warner Bros. took the No. 2 spot with “Dark Knight and the No. 3 spot with George Lucas’ animated “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” which opened to an estimated $15.5 million from 3,452 runs.

Among other new openings, New Regency’s R-rated “Mirrors,” distributed by 20th Century Fox, took advantage of being the only horror pic in the market, coming in No. 4 and debuting an estimated $11.1 million from 2,664 runs.

Woody Allen pic “Vicky Cristinia Barcelona,” bowing on 692 screens and released by MGM/The Weinstein Co., placed No. 10 for the weekend in grossing an estimated $3.7 million for a per screen average of $5,361.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. “Tropic Thunder,” $26 million.

2. “The Dark Knight,” $16.8 million.

3. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” $15.5 million.

4. “Mirrors,” $11.1 million.

5. “Pineapple Express,” $10 million.

6. “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” $8.6 million.

7. “Mamma Mia!”, $6.5 million.

8. “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” $5.9 million.

9. “Step Brothers,” $5 million.

10. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” $3.7 million.

[Credit: Variety / Media By Numbers]