Los Angeles ? The Nicolas Cage action-thriller “Bangkok Dangerous” needed just $7.8 million to take the top spot at the box office in what was the slowest movie weekend in at least five years, according to estimates released Sunday.

The total weekend box office gross was expected to reach just $66 million, slightly less than the $66.7 million reported for the same weekend in September 2003.

“We had no strong holdover from Labor Day weekend to boost the box office,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media by Numbers.

“Bangkok Dangerous,” a remake of a 1999 Asian movie, opened on 2,650 screens and performed within Lionsgate’s expectations, said Steve Rothenberg, the studio’s vice president of distribution.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC:

1. “Bangkok Dangerous,” $7.8 million.

2. “Tropic Thunder,” $7.5 million.

3. “The House Bunny,” $5.9 million.

4. “The Dark Knight,” $5.7 million.

5. “Traitor,” $4.7 million.

6. “Babylon A.D.,” $4 million.

7. “Death Race,” $3.6 million.

8.” Disaster Movie, $3.3 million.

9. “Mamma Mia,” $2.7 million.

10. “Pineapple Express,” $2.4 million.