Talledega Nights Holds On to First Place

Posted on August 14, 2006

Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby hung on to the #1 spot at the box office this past weekend, with box office receipts of a $23,000,000. That brings the gross of the film to $91,217,000. The dance film, Step Up came in second with $21,065,000.

Oliver Stone's World Trade Center came in at third place with $19,016,000. New Yorkers, in particular, weren't thrilled with the idea of a 9/11 movie so soon after the event and the rest of the national movie audience just didn't seem interested either.

Earlier this month, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly showed up Larry King Live to promote Talledega Nights film and did the entire interview in character as Ricky Bobby and his best friend, Cal Naughton, Jr. In a hilarious segment, racing legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. called in to give the two racers some grief.

EARNHARDT: Oh, is that right? You want to talk about numbers? What number are you? What number are you Cal? In my book you're just a big zero. Heck the only time you ever won was when everybody else in the race was disqualified.
FERRELL: Hey, don't you talk to my, you know, friend that way, OK, you rookie. Why don't you just get back behind your Big Wheel and drive away.
REILLY: Yes, or a tricycle.
FERRELL: Yes.
REILLY: Yes, a tricycle because tricycles are for little babies who aren't grownups. And I am number two by the way.
KING: Hold it guys. Wait, let's take a breather and just agree to disagree, OK? Dale, I appreciate you popping by. I just think it's best to call it a draw and let the three of you hash it out in the next big race.
EARNHARDT: Oh, I'll hash it out all right. I'll make hash out of Ricky Bobby's track record that's what I'll do.
KING: OK, Dale, you'll have your chance...
REILLY: I'll make hash browns out of your face.
KING: ...to do that next time at Talladega. Thanks for calling Dale.

You can read the entire transcript here.

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