'King Kong' continues to crush the box office competition

'The Producers' are no match for the big ape, while 'Just Like Heaven' is a surprise hit.

Jan  5 2006

'King Kong' continues to dominate at the top of the London box office, with the giant silverback gorilla holding onto the top spot for a third week running.

And while the film's nationwide (and worldwide) performance has been somewhat disappointing, 'King Kong's popularity shows no sign of abating in town, grossing an impressive £159,454 in its third week of release.

'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' remains at number three for a third week straight, and when you combine the gross of these two films with that of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' (which falls from three to five on the chart), the result is a lucrative year-end for London cinemas.

'The Producers', Mel Brooks' musical remake of his classic 1967 comedy, is a new entry at number three, though the film's £58,223 from 20 screens is slightly disappointing for such a high-profile release.

The same cannot be said of supernatural comedy 'Just Like Heaven' however, which raked in a hugely impressive £43,374 from just nine screens.

The only other new entry is 'Cheaper by the Dozen 2' at number eight, a woeful comedy that deserves its position at the lower end of the chart.

Next week, expect Oscar favourite 'Brokeback Mountain' to challenge Kong at the top, while Woody Allen's London-set 'Match Point' should also do well in the capital.