Buena Vista Pictures' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest continued to break records, and Sony Pictures' Monster House surpassed expectations with its estimated $23 million opening, according to The Hollywood Reporter. However, the same can't be said for Warner Bros. Pictures' release of M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water, which grossed an estimated $18.2 million, or 20th Century Fox's My Super Ex-Girlfriend, which came in at an estimated $8.7 million. Meanwhile, Kevin Smith's loyal fans turned out in abundance, as his irreverent sequel Clerks II grossed $9.6 million. Overall, the top 12 movies earned an estimated $143.2 million, an extremely healthy 10.8% increase compared with the same weekend last year. The variety of films offered seemed to draw audiences in droves.

In virtual vacuum-cleaner fashion, Walt Disney Pictures' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest drew the bulk of international business during the weekend, garnering an estimated $62 million from 5,100 screens in 35 territories. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest grossed nearly four times the weekend tally of the No. 2 film, Warner Bros. International's Superman Returns, which pulled an estimated $16.3 million from 5,900 screens in 40 markets. In just three weekends of overseas release -- and with about 40% of the overseas market yet to play - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest has tallied $217 million, nearly double Superman's international cume (an estimated $110 million) compiled through four weekends.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was released July 7th, 2006 and stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook. The film is directed by Gore Verbinski.