According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount's Sahara kicked up some dust at the boxoffice this weekend as the action-adventure film from Bristol Bay Prods., while not a blockbuster, did much better than expected and excavated an estimated $18.5 million to easily claim the top spot. The opening for the PG-13 film, starring Matthew McConaughey, marked the third consecutive No. 1 opening for Paramount. Industry observers thought Sahara would debut in the $10 million to $14 million area.

After a solid bow of nearly $30 million the previous weekend, Dimension's Sin City held up well on its sophomore frame, reaping an estimated $14.1 million to place second, falling off 52% from its debut -- a strong hold considering the genre. The Bruce Willis starrer, co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, has amassed about $50.7 million in 10 days. 20th Century Fox's Fever Pitch didn't quite hit it out of the park but had a respectable debut on its first at-bat in theaters and landed in the third spot with an estimated $13 million. The sports-themed romantic comedy, starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon and helmed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly, did particularly well in the Northeast.

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Sahara was released April 8th, 2005 and stars Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penélope Cruz, William H. Macy, Rainn Wilson, Delroy Lindo, Lambert Wilson, Lennie James. The film is directed by Breck Eisner.