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Even though the newest Dan Brown novel adaptation Angels and Demons was a slightly more enjoyable film than its predecessor The Da Vinci Code it fell far short of it in the cash department. Apparently the quality of a film is irrelevant; success is actually measured by how many religious groups you offend or intimidate.

The Da Vinci Code opened in May 2006 at $77 million (a career record for Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard) while concerned Catholic and Christian organizations picketed theaters. Angels and Demons, by comparison, saw Robert Langdon dancing the line with finding some faith of his own and only made $48 million. The lesson learned? Controversy equals cash. Well, except when it comes to Kevin Smith, but it's his own fault: who really wants to see a movie about Seth Rogen doing porn?

Angels and Demons only just beat out last week's top dog Star Trek. The "Enterprise"-ing sequel banked $43 million this weekend bringing its running total to an impressive $147 million. The film sailed easily into the coveted position of being the most lucrative Star Trek franchise film ever, supplanting Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home which topped off at $109 million. It's good to know that a movie about saving whales is no longer the biggest Trek money maker.

1. Angels & Demons * $48,000,000 ? - ? Total: $48,000,000 LW: N ????WR: 1???? THTRS: 3,527

2. Star Trek $43,000,000 ? - ? Total: $147,611,000 LW: 1 ????WR: 2???? THTRS: 3,860

3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine $14,800,000 ? - ? Total: $151,091,000 LW: 2 ????WR: 3???? THTRS: 3,892

4. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past $6,860,000 ? - ? Total: $40,062,000 LW: 3 ????WR: 3???? THTRS: 3,150

5. Obsessed $4,550,000 ? - ? Total: $62,571,000 LW: 4 ????WR: 4???? THTRS: 2,634

6. 17 Again $3,400,000 ? - ? Total: $58,395,000 LW: 5 ????WR: 5???? THTRS: 2,450

7. Monsters Vs. Aliens $3,000,000 ? - ? Total: $190,552,000 LW: 8 ????WR: 8???? THTRS: 1,951

8. The Soloist $2,425,000 ? - ? Total: $27,527,000 LW: 7 ????WR: 4???? THTRS: 2,022

9. Next Day Air $2,281,000 ? - ? Total: $7,649,000 LW: 6 ????WR: 2???? THTRS: 1,139

10. Earth (2009) $1,680,000 ? - ? Total: $29,071,000 LW: 9 ????WR: 4???? THTRS: 1,584

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Weekend-Box-Office-Angels-Demons-13186.html