Sunday Update: Not only is this the worst earning weekend of the year, it's the worst-earning weekend since 2003. The top 12 pictures in release took in a total of $51.6 million, according to Media By Numbers, worse than every year in recent memory except 2003, "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" ruled the box office.

The Nicolas Cage action picture, "Bangkok Dangerous," did even worse than early estimates indicated, taking in a feeble $7.8 million for LionsGate, according to Media By Numbers. This former A-list star has had precipitous ups and downs at the box office in recent years, and it's more down than up.

The only thing to cheer Cage up might be that Vin Diesel had as bad a weekend as he did. "Babylon A.D." took in $4 million, for a two-week cumulative grand total of $17 million.

Overture's Don Cheadle film, "Traitor," is also a bust, dropping a vertigo-inducing 318 percent this weekend, and taking in just $4.6 million in more than 2,000 theaters. Cheadle is Oscar bait, sure, but as a leading man he has not proven to be a draw.

"Tropic Thunder" is still holding up, taking in $7.5 million.

"The House Bunny," which we presume cost $3.50, took in $5.9 million, and has racked up $37 million at the box office for Sony.

"The Dark Knight" continues to soar past a $500 million domestic total at the box office, now at $512 million after this weekend.

PREVIOUSLY:

Apparently this weekend will be one of the worst of the year, nothing is cracking $10 million. Early estimates from my studio sources:

• Bangkok Dangerous $8.5 million
• Tropic Thunder $6.5 million
• House Bunny $5.5 million
• Dark Knight $5.5 million

The year to date domestic gross is running behind 2007, though not by much.