SIZE MATTERS NOT: No doubt about it: Oscar and the box office have had a falling out. None of the best-picture nominees has made $60 million domestically, and only "Brokeback Mountain" has a shot at $100 mil. Nineteen others topped that in `05; none made the big list. In fact, a doc ("March of the Penguins") outgrossed every best-picture nominee for the second straight year. ("Fahrenheit 9/11" did it in `04).
THE UP SIDE: Meanwhile, off the Oscar path, a couple of uglified big names were cashing in. "Big Momma's House 2," with Martin Lawrence in drag, and "Nanny McPhee," with a big-nosed, wart-laden Emma Thompson, both exceeded expectations. Now maybe Martin and Emma can afford a spa weekend.
BOMB SQUAD: Steven Soderbergh and Dallas boys Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban got a big publicity bang but next to no box-office bucks for their foray into simultaneous theater-TV-DVD release. "Bubble" averaged just $2,208 per theater, making it a big-screen bomb. Still, the makers argue that higher-than-usual DVD orders will make this odd duck a moneymaker.
SWAMI SEZ: As the box office bulks up, the Swami's still dieting.
Last week's prediction: Martin Lawrence's fat suit would bring in $19 mil at No. 1.
Result: He's a brick house! $28 mil and an easy No. 1.
Prediction: The low-rent "Mary Poppins," "Nanny McPhee," would disappoint with $9 mil at No. 3.
Result: A higher flyer with $14.5 mil at No. 2.
A PRICEY CALL: Familiar remake, no-name stars, scary trailer.
Swami sez: Ka-ching! "When a Stranger Calls" rings up $20 mil at No. 1.
CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN: Eight Oscar noms means another hike up the chart for "Brokeback Mountain."
Swami sez: The sheepherders round up $10 mil at No. 4.
