“The Incredible Hulk” smashed away all memories of Ang Lee’s 2003 version and opened with a $54.5 million opening weekend (and even a few good reviews). “Kung Fu Panda” fell to No. 2, with $34 million. M. Night Shyamalan’s first R-rated film (a big selling point in the trailers) “The Happening,” opened at No. 3 with $30 million. “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” ($16 million) and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” ($13 million) round out the Top 5.
Four of the albums in the top five of the Billboard 200 are held by newcomers this week. Disturbed’s “Indestructible” opened at No. 1, as Usher’s “Here I Stand” fell from the top spot to No. 3. Weezer’s self-titled album makes a strong showing, as does Journey’s new “Revelation,” debuting in slots four and five, respectively.
As usual, books about weird secrets dominate the NY Times Hardcover Fiction list. Lee Child’s “Nothing to Lose,” about small-town secrets, takes the top spot, while Stephanie Meyer’s “The Host” hangs on to No. 2. Also included are books about mysterious illnesses and vampire hunters. Dean Koonz’s “Odd Horus” falls to number seven. David Sedaris takes the top spot on the non-fiction list with “When You Are Engulfed in Flames.” “Audition” by Barbara Walters falls to number four, and somewhere around there are the requisite political books. (Oh: Ron Paul.) And one of those polygamy books is still clinging on to the top ten as well.