BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- After only six weeks in release the surprise hit of the summer "March of the Penguins" has passed "Bowling for Columbine" ($21,576,018) making it the 2nd highest grossing documentary of all time*. "March of the Penguins" finished the weekend at $7,117,206 for a North American cumulative gross of $26,414,000.

The film, which is presented by Warner Independent Pictures and National Geographic Feature Films, opened in New York and Los Angeles, June 24, 2005 on 4 screens with a per-screen average of $34,373.00. The film is currently on 1,864 screens and will expand to over 2,000 screens this week.

"The film has been so successful because it works on so many different levels. It's a beautiful love story for couples, a thrilling family adventure and a testament to the power and beauty of nature for the more mature audiences," says Mark Gill, President, Warner Independent Pictures.

"'March of the Penguins' is clearly a movie that arrived when moviegoers were clamoring for something original. Starved for adventure, romance, and humor, audiences discovered these storytelling elements in a real life tale about emperor penguins in Antarctica," says Adam Leipzig, President, National Geographic Feature Films. "From acquiring the film, shaping it for American audiences and marketing it beyond art houses, the collaboration with Warner Independent Pictures has been nothing short of perfection. It's been an experience to celebrate."

French director Luc Jacquet's "March of the Penguins" is a heart-warming tale of the remarkable Emperor penguin's quest for love in the harsh Antarctic. Jacquet and his cinematographers, Laurent Chalet and Jerome Maison, spent 13 months in the Antarctic in average temperatures of -58 degrees F with the penguins to capture this journey. The film's narration was written by Jordan Roberts and told by Morgan Freeman.

* excludes large format films, and comedy concert films.

Running time: 80 minutes
Rating: G

Source: Warner Independent Pictures