The fourth “Pirates,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” won the weekend with the best opening weekend of the year, but its openings have definitely fallen over the years:

• POTC: Dead Man's Chest (2006): $135 million
• POTC: At World's End (2007): $114 million
• POTC: On Stranger Tides (2011): $90 million

That's unadjusted. Here's what the numbers look like when you adjust for inflation:

• POTC: Dead Man's Chest (2006): $162 million
• POTC: At World's End (2007): $131 million
• POTC: On Stranger Tides (2011): $90 million

Plus with all those 3-D prices, I wouldn't be surprised if “Pirates” has lost more than half the audience it had in 2006. How does a franchise do that in five years? Here are its Rotten Tomatoes (top critic) numbers:

• POTC: Dead Man's Chest (2006): 41%
• POTC: At World's End (2007): 35%
• POTC: On Stranger Tides (2011): 32%

And I think those numbers are kind. Forty-one percent for “Dead Man's Chest”? I had to see it for this article on Johnny Depp and was too kind myself:

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” is Depp’s first sequel, and, like most sequels, it’s bigger, louder and longer than the first. The set pieces are overwhelming. Everything is broader, including the comedy. That might not be a good thing.

The point is, you keep building crap and only the moviegoers with drool coming out of the sides of their mouths will keep showing up.

Meanwhile, “Bridesmaids” added 19 theaters and barely dropped at all, only 19 percent, good enough for $21 million and second place. I feel like I'm personally responsible for 100 of those people, I've talked it up so much. The movie's now at $59 million and could eventually make the $100 million mark.

“Thor” fell to earth like Thor falling to earth, slipping 55% to $15.5 million and third place. It now looks like it won't make that $200 million mark I talked up last week. “Fast Five” will, though. It added another $10 million for A domestic total of $186 million.

The box-office booty here.

Arrr-ugh.

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