Entertainment Today: Showbiz News

'DAREDEVIL' TOPS BOX OFFICE

Ben Affleck's superhero adventure "Daredevil" leaped to the top of the box office in a single bound this weekend.

Studio estimates released Sunday showed the star-studded comic-book adaptation pulled in $43.5 million since its Valentine's Day debut. Co-starring Michael Clarke Duncan, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Garner and Joseph Pantoliano, the actioner wooed moviegoers away from last weekend's No. 1 movie, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Tumbling to the No. 2 spot, the Kate Hudson-Matthew McConaughey romantic comedy continued to perform strongly, earning another $19 million at the box office and bringing its 10-day total to $47.7 million.

Coming in third place was the musical extravaganza "Chicago," which earned 13 Oscar nominations last week and $12.6 million more in ticket sales. Its two-month total is $80.7 million.

Disney's animated sequel, "The Jungle Book 2" swung into fourth place with $11.9 million, while the Jackie Chan-Owen Wilson period comedy, "Shanghai Knights" rounded out the top five with $11.4 million.

GROUP CALLS FOR 'PIANIST' BOYCOTT

British child-protection advocates are calling for a boycott of Roman Polanski's film "The Pianist" because of the filmmaker's 1970s statutory-rape conviction.

Polanski fled Los Angeles for Paris almost 25 years ago to escape sentencing after admitting he had unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl at Jack Nicholson's house while the actor, who also is up for an Oscar this year, was out of town. Authorities in the United States have warned the Oscar-nominated director he will be arrested if he shows up at the 75th Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles next month.

The Phoenix Survivors action group has called on the British to examine their consciences when deciding whether to watch the film at the cinema, reports Ananova.com.

Referring to the decision to nominate Polanski for an Oscar, spokesperson Shy Keenan told the Web site: "To those who have turned their blind eye, who are you to forgive? Would you if it was your child?

"It is an astonishing and perverted irony that 'The Pianist' should be nominated alongside 'Chicago' with its storyline based on how a man set out to make a murderer so famous that, in the end, no one could convict or punish them for their crime, the statement said. "They may forgive the crime, even if they were not the victim of it, but unless you treat the sickness the crime will happen again."

NEW FILM FOLLOWS CROWE'S ROCK BAND

The new DVD, "TEXAS: 30 ODD FOOT OF GRUNTS," offers a unique peak at the musical side of Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe.

The film documents the "Gladiator" star and his Australian rock band as they cross the globe on an intense schedule of live shows and recording sessions. Available from Miramax Home Entertainment on Feb. 25, the DVD is a candid and revealing documentary and concert film, which follows "TOFOG" from Sydney to London to Austin, Texas.

Among the DVD's special features are outtakes, song lyrics, music videos and even a hidden 25-minute featurette, "60 Odd Hours in Italy." Viewers also can switch between camera angles while looking at concert footage or watch bonus footage while the concert audio continues.