Shrek trumps Sex at the box office

LOS ANGELES -- Movie audiences are showing more appetite for Shrek than for sex.
DreamWorks Animation's sequel Shrek Forever After remained the No. 1 movie for a second weekend with US$43.3 million from Friday to Sunday. The film raised its domestic total to US$133.1 million.
That easily topped the Warner Bros. sequel Sex and the City 2, which was No. 2 with a US$32.1-million debut that came in far below the US$56.8-million opening weekend of its predecessor two years ago. Along with a US$14.2-million haul in its first day Thursday, Sex and the City 2 has brought in US$46.3 million.
Debuting at No. 3 with US$30.2 million was Disney's action tale Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
Even with bad reviews and a running time of nearly 21/2 hours for Sex and the City 2, many in Hollywood had expected the sequel to open at No. 1.
But the fourth Shrek movie, itself opening far below the previous sequels, held up strongly in its second weekend. Family crowds continued to pack theatres for what is billed as the final big-screen tale featuring voice stars Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas.
Women made up 90 per cent of the audience for Sex and the City 2, which reunites the stars of the HBO series -- Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon.