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Independence Day weekend endedjust as it began, with Will SmithsHancockas the No.

1 movie in the land.

The superhero film grossed $66 million from Friday through Sunday, according to early estimates.

Will Smith, Hancock

Which is totally awesome, right?

WithHancock, Smith continues to prove that he can open any movie, anywhere, anytime.

Then again, these numbers may be met with a low level of disappointment.

That they were slightly under most pundits predictions andway worse than mineis one thing.

(Yes, I greatly overestimatedHancocks box-office prospects, woe is myself.)

What does it all mean?

As it happened, many other movies performed below expectations.WALL-E(No.

  1. brought in $11.1 mil to take its three-week total to $98.1 mil.

ButKung Fu Panda(No.

Another big disappointment occurred at No.

I cant really say: Far be it from me to figure out what women want at any age.

Two films in limited release fared much better, however.

The French thrillerTell No Oneaveraged $21,250 in eight theaters.

And the star-studded Sundance stoner flickThe Wacknessaveraged $24,177 in six locations.

And, hey, yippie-ki-yay have a great rest-of-your-holiday.

MONDAY UPDATE:Was I too critical in my analysis ofHancocks box-office performance (above)?

It turns out that Will Smiths superhero movie fared notably worse than Sundays estimates indicated.

Though still very good, the new sum bumpsHancocks debut down to No.

4 on the list of 2008s openers (WALL-Epremiered with $63.1 mil, youll remember).

It changes the films first five-and-a-half-day total to $103.9 mil.

And, most importantly, it helps justify my argument.