PRINCE OF PERSIA GROSSES P 60.8-M IN 4 DAYS, OPENS AT NO. 1 IN RP

MANILA, May 31, 2010 -- Walt Disney Pictures’ fantasy adventure “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” royally opened at No. 1 in the Philippines, amassing a majestic P60.8-million nationwide gross for the May 27-30 weekend frame. This was announced today by Victor R. Cabrera, managing director of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines, the film’s local distributor.

The Jake Gyllenhaal-starrer posted Disney’s all-time third-biggest opening weekend, only bested by 2007’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (P71-M) and 2006’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (P66-M).

The new Jerry Bruckheimer production also established the year’s second-highest debut weekend, beating the openings of recent blockbusters “Shrek Forever After” (P56.9-M), “Alice in Wonderland” (P47.9-M) and “Clash of the Titans” (P47.5-M).

The Top 20 cinemas that garnered the biggest receipts are SM Mall of Asia (P3.69-M), Trinoma (P3.24-M), SM North EDSA (P2.40-M), SM Megamall (P2.26-M), Glorietta 4 (P2.18-M), SM Cebu (P2.17-M), Power Plant (P1.86-M), Greenbelt 3 (P1.74-M), Alabang Town Center (P1.67-M) and Gateway (P1.61-M).

They’re followed by Shang Cineplex (P1.56-M), Eastwood (P1.48-M), Greenhills (P1.39-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.34-M), Robinsons Ermita (P1.19-M), Festival Mall (P1.18-M), Robinsons Galleria (P1.12-M), Market! Market! (P981,127), Gaisano Davao (P950,637) and Sta. Lucia East (P861,500).

From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia.

In the film, a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal)) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Directed by Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) with a cast that includes Sir Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina, “Prince of Persia” is written by Boaz Yakin and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Jordan Mechner.

Still showing across the Philippines on Digital 2D and regular format, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.