Nia Vardalos
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BirthDate BirthPlace |
09/23/1962
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
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Box Office Analysis: Nov. 10
November 10, 2002 10:36am EST8 Mile opened miles ahead of the competition, topping the chart with a record setting $54.5 million. The Santa Clause 2 fell only 15 percent, placing second with $24.8 million. The Ring continued to show great legs, down only 11 percent in third place with $16 million. I Spy finished fourth, holding decently with $9 million. Jackass: The Moviewas an okay fifth with $7.2 million. Driven by 8 Mile, key films were up nearly 17 percent from last year -- $141.6 million versus $121.4 million. THE TOP TEN Universal and Imagine Entertainment's R rated drama 8 Mile kicked off in first place, setting a number of records with a muscular ESTIMATED $54.46 million at 2,470 theaters ($22,050 per theater), the year's fifth biggest opening. 8 Mile's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. Directed by Curtis Hanson and produced by Brian Grazer, it stars Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer. "It set a record for the largest opening on its playdate," Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said Sunday morning. "It's Curtis Hanson's record. It's Brian Grazer's second biggest opening -- and that's only behind $55.1 million (for) Grinch. It's the fourth largest non-holiday November opening behind Harry Potter, Monsters, Inc. and Grinch. And these are all family films. It's the largest November R rated film and the second largest R rated film (opening ever, following) Hannibal at $58 million." Who was on hand opening weekend? "Under-25 was the audience," Rocco explained. "There's no question this is a film (people) under 25 are going to embrace on opening weekend. 69 percent was under 25. That's not to say there weren't some adults that sampled it -- 31 percent was over the age of 25. We knew we would (reach the young audience) because the main reason for wanting to come see 8 Mile was Eminem. It also drew a slightly more female audience -- 53 percent of the audience was female. It was very ethnically mixed across all quadrants -- Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Other. (These are) all great signs." The studio's exit polls showed that 86 percent of the opening weekend audience rated 8 Mile in the Top Two Boxes (excellent and very good). Asked if Universal will go wider with the film, Rocco noted, "We'll see tomorrow (Monday). This is not about numbers of playdates. If there are theaters that can support opening the film and playing through Thanksgiving, I will consider it. This is not about numbers. I think the story is that it's not necessary to be in over 3,000 playdates to launch a film of this magnitude. "I think we were very smart covering as many markets in North America as we could, not over saturating the markets and making sure these theaters were amply covered with additional prints so they had enough seats. More (theaters) is not necessarily better. We were in 2,470 playdates, but we also had over 3,900 screens. We made sure there were an ample number of seats (to accommodate audiences)." Buena Vista/Disney's G rated comedy sequel The Santa Clause 2 slid one peg to second place in its second week with a still happy ESTIMATED $24.8 million (-15%) at 3,352 theaters (+2 theaters; $7,397 per theater). Its cume is approximately $60.1 million, heading for $100 million-plus. Directed by Michael Lembeck, it stars Tim Allen. The original Santa Clause in its second weekend (Nov. 18-20, 1994) was third with $17.1 million (-11%) at 2,201 theaters ($7,786 per theater). Its cume after 10 days was $40.6 million. It went on to gross $144.6 million in domestic theaters. DreamWorks' PG-13 rated horror thriller The Ring dropped one rung to third place in its fourth week, still holding well with an ESTIMATED $16.0 million (-11%) at 2,927 theaters (+119 theaters; $5,490 per theater). Its cume is approximately $86.1 million, heading for $100 million-plus. Directed by Gore Verbinski, it stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox. Columbia's opening of its PG-13 rated comedy I Spy fell one notch to fourth place in its second week, holding respectably with an ESTIMATED $9.0 million (-29%) at 3,182 theaters (theater count unchanged; $2,828 per theater). Its cume is approximately $24.7 million. Directed by Betty Thomas, it stars Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson. Paramount and MTV Films' R rated comedy Jackass: The Movie was down one slot to fifth place in its third week with a less funny ESTIMATED $7.2 million (-43%) at 2,532 theaters (+2 theaters; $2,844 per theater). Its cume is approximately $53.3 million. Directed by Jeff Tremaine, it stars Johnny Knoxville. "It's (going to get to) $60 million-plus now, maybe $65 million," Paramount distribution president Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning. "It could get to $70 million if it hangs around. It has surprised me from Day One." IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding held on to sixth place in its 30th week, still showing outstanding legs with an ESTIMATED $5.75 million (+2%) at 1,975 theaters (-2 theaters; $2,917 per theater). Its cume is approximately $192.8 million, heading for $215 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama held on to seventh place in its seventh week with an okay ESTIMATED $3.8 million (-17%) at 2,004 theaters (-437 theaters; $1,912 per theater). Its cume is approximately $118.6 million, heading for $125 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon. Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow's R rated horror film Ghost Ship sank three fathoms to eighth place in its third week with a choppy ESTIMATED $3.16 million (-53%) at 2,361 theaters (-426 theaters; $1,338 per theater). Its cume is approximately $26.2 million, heading for $33-35 million. Directed by Steve Beck, it stars Julianna Margulies. Warner Bros.' release of Quinta Communications' R rated thriller Femme Fatale from Franchise Films opened ninth with a calm ESTIMATED $2.83 million at 1,066 theaters ($2,655 per theater). Its cume after five days is approximately $3.5 million. Directed by Brian De Palma, it stars Antonio Banderas and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos. "This is a Franchise Films (movie) distributed by us," Warner Bros. Distribution president Dan Fellman said Sunday morning. "The filmmakers are very pleased with the numbers and we're happy to do the service. "The picture played very well in New York, L.A., San Francisco, Toronto and Chicago. It had trouble in the mid-section of the country. The exit polls in the big cities were good, but not as good in the small cities. It was about 60-40 male-female. It got very good reviews. It will hang on for a few weeks in the U.S. and, hopefully, maintain itself in the big cities for a while. And I think it will be a very good video." Revolution Studios and Columbia's R rated romantic comedy drama Punch-Drunk Love, which was eighth last week, tied for tenth place in its fifth week with an unexciting ESTIMATED $2.6 million (-39%) at 1,293 theaters (+41 theaters; $2,011 per theater). Its cume is approximately $14.6 million. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson. Miramax's R rated drama Frida, which continued to expand in its third week, tied for tenth place with an encouraging ESTIMATED $2.57 million at 319 theaters (+272 theaters; $8,066 per theater). Its cume is approximately $4.3 million. Directed by Julie Taymor, it stars Salma Hayek. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of Focus Features' PG-13 rated drama Far From Heaven to a very promising ESTIMATED $0.21 million at 6 theaters ($34,500 per theater). Directed by Todd Haynes, it stars Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid and Dennis Haysbert. "It's really huge," Focus distribution president Jack Foley said Sunday morning. "I've (looked at) the biggest (limited release) openings that have happened since August -- Punch-Drunk Love, One Hour Photo, Frida, The Good Girl, Igby Goes Down, Bowling For Columbine-- and it ranks number five among them. Those have been big openings. Punch-Drunk Love, had a $76,000 print average. One Hour Photo, was $45,000. Frida was $41,000. Good Girl was $37,000. We're sitting with a $34,500 print average. Based on how sophisticated this film is, it'd be wonderful if we can do the same business as these other films. I don't put it in the same category as Punch-Drunk Love or One Hour because (they had superstars like Adam Sandler and Robin Williams), but my God this is huge!" Asked about expansion plans, Foley said, "We're going to be going into 13 markets next weekend. They'll be the top markets (like) Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc. The runs will be varying from limited multiples -- for instance, in San Francisco we'll be in about six theaters, where the film should be explosive -- to exclusive runs, for instance, in Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix and Portland. We should be on 37 or 38 screens next weekend. The reviews have been perfect because they've really delved into how wonderful a film it is and how well it's (been) made, as well as the entertainment value. "It uses the language of film in an exciting and a sort of revitalized way. You've never seen anything like this before. It's so amazing. It's such a sophisticated movie." SNEAK PREVIEWS There were no national sneak previews this weekend. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend United Artists' R rated satiric documentary Bowling For Columbine released via MGM went wider in its fourth week with a still compelling ESTIMATED $1.65 million at 222 theaters (+60 theaters; $7,432 per theater). Its cume is approximately $6.9 million. Written, produced and directed by Michael Moore, it won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival. HBO Films and Newmarket Films' PG-13 rated comedy drama Real Women Have Curves added theaters in its fourth week with a slow ESTIMATED $0.5 million (+6%) at 148 theaters (+24 theaters; $3,385 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.9 million. Directed by Patricia Cardoso, it stars America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros and George Lopez. Miramax's Comedian expanded in its fifth week with a weak ESTIMATED $0.5 million (-28%) at 244 theaters (+19 theaters; $2,032 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.8 million. Directed by Christian Charles, it stars Jerry Seinfeld. Artisan Entertainment's R rated comedy Rodger Dodger widened in its third week with an okay ESTIMATED $0.17 million at 34 theaters (+9 theaters; $4,853 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.4 million. Artisan said it will expand this Friday (Nov. 15) into 16 more key markets, adding another 20 theaters. Written and directed by Dylan Kidd, it stars Jennifer Beals, Elizabeth Berkley, Jesse Eisenberg, Isabella Rossellini and Campbell Scott. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $141.65 million for the weekend, up about 16.73 percent from last year when they totaled $121.35 million. Key films were up about 24.94 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $113.37 million. Last year, Buena Vista/Disney's second week of Monsters, Inc. was first with $45.55 million at 3,269 theaters ($13,934 per theater); and Fox's opening week of Shallow Hal was second with $22.52 million at 2,770 theaters ($8,129 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $68.1 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $79.3 million.
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Box Office Analysis: Nov. 3
November 03, 2002 2:04pm ESTSanta delivered the goods at the box office this weekend as Santa Clause 2 arrived to a gift-wrapped $29 million. The Ring remained in the winners circle with $18.5 million, with no percentage drop at all from last weekend. I Spy kicked off in third place to a disappointing $14 million. Jackass: The Movie was still laughing in fourth place with $13.1 million. Ghost Ship sailed into fifth place, down 43 percent with $6.6 million. Also helping to boost this weekend's totals was Twentieth Century Fox's IMAX release of Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones with an out of this world $1.5 million. (For details, see OTHER OPENINGS below). Key films were down about 18 percent from last year -- $114.6 million versus $139.9 million. There also was record setting news on the home entertainment front as Sony Pictures Entertainment announced its DVD and videocassette release of Spider-Man had sold a projected 11 million combined units this weekend. Sony ESTIMATED Spider-Man will do a record setting $190 million in retail revenue in North America its first three days in the marketplace. (For details, see the related news story here.) THE TOP TEN Buena Vista/Disney's G rated comedy sequel Santa Clause 2 opened to a chart topping ESTIMATED $29.0 million at 3,350 theaters ($8,662 per theater). Santa's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. Directed by Michael Lembeck, it stars Tim Allen. The original Santa Clause opened the weekend of Nov. 11-13, 1994 in second place to $19.3 million at 2,183 theaters ($8,851 per theater). It went on to gross $144.6 million in domestic theaters. "It was one of those films that the theater manager grapevine had told us weeks and weeks ago that this was going to be a big hit," Buena Vista Distribution president Chuck Viane said Sunday morning about the sequel. "Inside the operations of all the theater chains, they knew it and they were prepared. We had great showtimes, multiple screens, more seats than you could imagine and it was a nice ride." Asked about starting the holiday season as early as Nov. 1, Viane explained, "I think it's much like the summer season -- November being such a prolific grossing month that you can use any part of it to launch a movie. And for something like ours we had a movie that had great anticipation behind it. (The film) lived up to what the audience was looking for. The CinemaScores were all A (grades)and in our own college tracking we scored a 90. The original scored an 89. "So people came in with some pretty high expectation and (Michael Lembeck) made a film that people loved. I think this is one of those roles Tim could do forever if he wanted to because the audience has a love affair with Tim in this love. He delivers. He makes you believe he's Santa Claus. But the nice part is, you can expand the (holiday) season much like early May is now the launch of summer. We believe that this (early November date) is just a logical launching pad for films for the holiday." Asked about the eight year period between the original and the sequel, Viane replied, "The movie is a perennial bring-back every Christmas. People fall in love and watch it on TV or on their DVDs or whatever. All we did was bring what they were looking for (into theaters) and with a very smart and warm story, wonderfully delivered. These are the kind of weekends you look forward to." Where is Santa 2 heading? "With all of the exit (poll data), I'm thinking this is another one of those $100 million-plus movies," Viane said. "Obviously, we're off to such a terrific start. In my wildest dreams I never thought we'd be number one by over $10 million. And who would have ever 'thunk' that we could have got to the point of doubling the gross of the film we went head and head with? These things all suggest we're going to be around. We have two weeks clear in the marketplace and I think we'll be in very, very good shape before we take on the head-on competition with Harry Potter (and the Chamber of Secrets). I think we will weather that (when it opens Nov. 15). "We will play very well through the Thanksgiving holiday. As people get closer and closer to the holiday, I think we're going to get some return visits. I'm pretty comfortable that all that will happen. It's always (interesting) when you listen to people walking out of a theater. So many of them said, 'Gee, I can't wait to see this again before the holidays.' It's a true testament to how well the movie's playing." DreamWorks' PG-13 rated horror thriller The Ring held on to second place in its third week with a solid ESTIMATED $18.5 million (-0%) at 2,808 theaters (+174 theaters; $6,585 per theater). Its cume is approximately $64.9 million. Directed by Gore Verbinski, it stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox. "Last weekend was up 23 percent from the first weekend, so it's pretty amazing right now the way it's playing (with no drop in the second weekend)," DreamWorks distribution head Jim Tharp said Sunday morning. What accounts for the great legs? "It has to be word of mouth," Tharp replied. "The sneaks -- we had 400 of them (the weekend before opening) -- were 60-70 percent capacity. So it didn't sell out for those. Even the opening Friday night, we didn't sell out. But since then the movie's been playing fantastically. It's all word of mouth." Columbia's opening of its PG-13 rated comedy I Spy finished third with a quiet ESTIMATED $14.0 million at 3,182 theaters ($4,400 per theater). Directed by Betty Thomas, it stars Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson. Paramount and MTV Films' R rated comedy Jackass: The Movie tumbled three slots to fourth place in its second week, holding better than expected with an ESTIMATED $13.1 million (-42%) at 2,530 theaters (+21 theaters; $5,178 per theater). Its cume is approximately $42.5 million. Directed by Jeff Tremaine, it stars Johnny Knoxville. Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow's R rated horror film Ghost Ship dropped anchor in fifth place, down two rungs in its second week with a slow ESTIMATED $6.57 million (-43%) at 2,787 theaters ($2,357 per theater). Its cume is approximately $21.3 million. Directed by Steve Beck, it stars Julianna Margulies. IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding slid one slot to sixth place in its 29th week, still showing great legs with an ESTIMATED $5.62 million (-9%) at 1,977 theaters (+10 theaters; $2,843 per theater). Its cume is approximately $185.2 million, heading for more than $200 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama dropped three notches to seventh place in its sixth week with a still sweet ESTIMATED $4.6 million (-29%) at 2,441 theaters (-741 theaters; $1,905 per theater). Its cume is approximately $113.5 million, heading for $125 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon. Revolution Studios and Columbia's R rated romantic comedy drama Punch-Drunk Love went wide in its fourth week, placing eighth with an okay ESTIMATED $4.2 million at 1,252 theaters (+771 theaters; $3,355 per theater). Its cume is approximately $11.1 million. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson. Universal and Dino De Laurentiis's R rated thriller Red Dragon, presented in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, fell three limbs to ninth place in its fifth week with an uneventful ESTIMATED $2.66 million (-43%) at 1,956 theaters (-930 theaters; $1,360 per theater). Its cume is approximately $89.0 million, heading for $100 million. Directed by Brett Ratner, it stars Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Rounding out the Top Ten was Fox Searchlight Pictures' PG-13 rated urban appeal romantic comedy Brown Sugar, which was ninth last week, with a less tasty ESTIMATED $1.7 million (-39%) at 855 theaters (-291 theaters; $1,988 per theater). Its cume is approximately $24.6 million. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, it stars Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of Twentieth Century Fox and Lucasfilm's blockbuster Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones in a special IMAX release to a sensational ESTIMATED $1.45 million at 58 theaters ($25,000 per theater). Its cume is approximately $303.6 million. "We're playing at 32 institutions and in 26 commercial theaters," Fox distribution president Bruce Snyder said Sunday morning. "They did better than I thought. There were lots of $20,000 Saturdays out there on this. It's fantastic!" Lions Gate Films' R rated thriller The Weight of Water arrived to a soggy ESTIMATED $50,000 at 27 theaters ($1,865 per theater). Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, it stars Elizabeth Hurley, Catherine McCormack, Sean Penn and Sarah Polley. SNEAK PREVIEWS There were no national sneak previews this weekend. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend saw United Artists' R rated satiric documentary Bowling for Columbine released via MGM widen in its third week with a still impressive ESTIMATED $1.65 million at 162 theaters (+51 theaters; $10,185 per theater). Its cume is approximately $4.6 million. Written, produced and directed by Michael Moore, it won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Miramax's R rated drama Frida went wider in its second week with a promising ESTIMATED $1.02 million at 47 theaters (+42 theaters; $21,595 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.3 million. Directed by Julie Taymor, it stars Salma Hayek. Miramax's Comedian expanded in its fourth week with a chilly ESTIMATED $0.72 million at 225 theaters (+195 theaters; $3,317 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.2 million. Directed by Christian Charles, it stars Jerry Seinfeld. Miramax's Dimension Films label went wider with its R rated urban appeal action drama Paid in Full with a dull ESTIMATED $0.63 million at 273 theaters (+5 theaters; $2,289 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.3 million. Directed by Charles Stone III, it stars Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris and Cam'ron. HBO Films and Newmarket Films' PG-13 rated comedy drama Real Women Have Curves added theaters in its third week with a quiet ESTIMATED $0.48 million at 124 theaters (+16 theaters; $3,802 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.2 million. Directed by Patricia Cardoso, it stars America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros and George Lopez. Artisan Entertainment's R rated comedy Roger Dodger widened in its second week with a hopeful ESTIMATED $0.16 million at 25 theaters (+21 theaters; $6,311 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.2 million. United Artists R rated drama All or Nothing expanded via MGM in its second week with an uneventful ESTIMATED $43,000 at 16 theaters (+9 theaters; $2,714 per theater). Its cume is approximately $80,000. Written and directed by Mike Leigh, it stars Timothy Spall. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $114.62 million for the weekend, down about 18.05 percent from last year when they totaled $139.86 million. Key films were up about 15.54 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $99.2 million. Last year, Buena Vista/Disney's opening week of Monsters, Inc. was first with $62.58 million at 3,237 theaters ($19,332 per theater); and Sony's opening week of The One was second with $19.11 million at 2,894 theaters ($6,604 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $81.7 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $47.5 million.
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Box Office Analysis: Oct. 27
October 27, 2002 11:35am ESTThree major movie studio films opened nationwide Friday, including Jackass: The Movie, Ghost Ship and The Truth About Charlie--and it was the dumbest one that cleaned up at the box office. Jackass: The Movie, the big-screen adaptation of the MTV series featuring a bunch of guys doing really stupid stunts, took in a rather tasteful $22.7 million, while The Ring chimed in second with a close $18.8 million. Ghost Ship finished third with a frighteningly real $11.7 million. Sweet Home Alabama came in fourth with $6.4 million, while My Big Fat Greek Wedding placed close behind, taking in $6.3 million in its 28th week. Red Dragon lost steam in its fourth week, coming in sixth with $4.7 million. Universal's The Truth About Charlie took in a tepid $2.3 million and averaged a low-slung $3,105 per theater at 752 runs. THE TOP TEN Paramount Picture's Jackass: The Movie opened with a strong ESTIMATED $22.7 million at 2,509 theaters ($9,047 per theater). Directed by Jeff Tremaine, it stars Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Dave England, Ryan Dunn, and Jason 'Wee Man' Acuna. Jackass' average per theater was also the highest for any film playing in wide release this week. The film is rated R for dangerous and sometimes extremely crude stunts, language and nudity, perfect for its target audience of youngish males up to about 30 in age. In Jackass, Knoxville and his crew take the concept of the MTV reality series Jackass to the extreme. "I've basically given money to a bunch of idiots saddled with enough dimwitted ignorance to try one bad idea after another," MTV Films President Van Toffer told Reuters Friday. It looks like the gamble paid off. The film is the third best October opener of all time (if estimates hold) behind Universal's Red Dragon, which took in $36.5 million when it debuted three weeks ago, and Meet the Parents, which grossed $28.6 million when it opened on Oct. 6, 2000. Jackass' take also bucks Paramount's series of under-performing openings, including Abandon, The Four Feathers and K-19: The Widowmaker. DreamWorks' PG-13 rated horror thriller The Ring came in second, although its ESTIMATED $18.8 million (+25%) take at 2634 theaters (+653 theaters; $7,137 per theater) is better than its opening weekend gross of $15.0 million. Its cume is approximately $39.7 million. Directed by Gore Verbinski, it stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox. Warner Bros.' R-rated horror thriller Ghost Ship sailed third with an ESTIMATED $11.7 million at 2787 theaters ($4,203 per theater). In Ghost Ship, a salvage crew comes across the remains of a vessel thought to be lost for more than 40 years floating adrift in a remote region of the Bering Sea. Directed by Steve Beck, it stars Gabriel Byrne, Julianna Margulies, Ron Eldard and Desmond Harrington. Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama dropped to fourth place in its fourth week, with an ESTIMATED $6.4 million (-33%) at 3,182 theaters (-100 theaters; $2,011 per theater). Its cume is approximately $107.2 million, heading for $125 million in domestic theaters and is the 16th film released in '02 to cross the $100 million mark. Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon. IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG-rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding went down a notch to fifth place in its 2th week, with an ESTIMATED $6.3 million (-12%) at 1967 theaters (-47 theaters; $3,211 per theater). Its cume is approximately $177.8 million, heading for $185 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Universal's R rated thriller Red Dragon, presented in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, fell three rungs to sixth place in its fourth week with an ESTIMATED $4.7 million (-46%) at 2886 theaters (-421 theaters; $21,635 per theater). Its cume is approximately $84.9 million, heading for $100 million. Directed by Brett Ratner, it stars Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Revolution Studios and Columbia's R rated romantic comedy drama Punch-Drunk Love expanded in its third week to a solid ESTIMATED $3.6 million at 481 theaters (+403 theaters; $7,277 per theater). Its cume is approximately $6.0 million. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson. The G rated animated feature Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie from Artisan's FHE Pictures and Big Idea Productions, came in eighth place in its fourth week with an ESTIMATED $2.9million (-26%) at 1,625 theaters (+44 theaters; $1,785 per theater). Its cume is approximately $19.7 million. Directed by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, it was produced by Ameake Owens. 20th Century Fox's PG-13 rated action drama The Transporter slipped to ninth place in its third week with an ESTIMATED $2.8 million (-44%) at 1880 theaters (-730 theaters; $1,513 per theater). Its cume is approximately $21.5 million. Directed by Cory Yuen, it stars Jason Statham and Shu Qi. Rounding out the Top Ten was Fox Searchlight Pictures' PG-13 rated romantic comedy Brown Sugar, which dropped five slots with an ESTIMATED $2.7 million (-47%) at 1,149 theaters (-229 theaters; $2,415 per theater). Its cume is approximately $22.3 million. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, it stars Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of six new releases, including The Truth About Charlie, Paid in Full and Frida. Universal's PG-13 crime caper The Truth About Charlie opened with an all too modest ESTIMATED $2.3 million at 752 theaters ($3,105 per theater). The film is a remake of 1963's Charade, which starred Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it stars Mark Wahlberg, Thandie Newton and Tim Robbins. Miramax Fims' R-rated urban crime drama Paid in Full opened with an ESTIMATED $1.4 million at 268 theaters ($5,224 per theater). The film, set in Harlem, New York, in 1986, is about a young man who is lured into the seductive world of drug dealing. Dirceted by Charles Stone, it stars Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris, Kevin Carroll, Esai Morales and Chi McBride. Miramax Films' R-rated biopic Frida opened to a solid $0.2 million at 5 theaters (a whopping $40,000 per theater average). The film is based on the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo--from her complex and enduring relationship with her mentor and husband, Diego Rivera, to her life as a political, artistic, and sexual revolutionary. Directed by Julie Taymor, the film stars Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Ashley Judd and Antonio Banderas. WEEKEND COMPARISON The top 12 films this weekend grossed an ESTIMATED $87.9 million, up about 19.53 percent from last weekend when they totaled $73. million, making this the seventh "up" weekend in a row. The top 12 were also up 11.21 percent from last year when they totaled $72.47 million. Last year, Universal's opening week of K-Pax was first with $17.2 million at 2,541 theaters ($6,775 per theater); and Warner Bros.' opening week of Thirteen Ghosts was second with $15.1 million at 2,781 theaters ($5,453 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $32.3 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $41.5 million.
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Box Office Analysis: Oct. 20
October 20, 2002 1:50pm ESTThe Ring ran circles around its box office competition, opening to a well rounded $15 million, while Sweet Home Alabama was still dancing in second place with $9.6 million. Red Dragon finished third, scaring up $8.8 million. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was fourth with $7.2 million, down only 15 percent in its 27th weekend. It's already done over $169 million and is heading for $185 million. Abandon's soft $5.3 million opening tied for fifth with a less sweet Brown Sugar. Revolution Studios and Columbia went wider with Punch-Drunk Love, averaging an impressive nearly $21,000 per theater at 78 runs. For details, see EXPANSIONS below. Columbia also was celebrating strong international openings for XXX, which now has opened number one in 40 territories around the world. The film's worldwide cume is nearly $200 million now and is heading for $300 million. For details, see INTERNATIONAL below. Key films were up 8 percent over last year -- $84.3 million versus $78.0 million. THE TOP TEN DreamWorks' PG-13 rated horror thriller The Ring opened solidly to a chart topping ESTIMATED $15.0 million at 1,981 theaters ($7,572 per theater). The Ring's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. Directed by Gore Verbinski, it stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox. "People were in the mood for a fun and scary movie," DreamWorks distribution head Jim Tharp said Sunday morning. "I guess you could say the audience had goose bumps on top of goose bumps, but they had a good time with it. We had sneaks last weekend at 400 locations and I think certainly the word of mouth helped Friday night. There was a 31 percent increase from Friday to Saturday, which in itself is remarkable and indicates good word of mouth and that it plays broader than the under-25 crowd." With Halloween approaching, will DreamWorks go wider with The Ring? "We're going to add 300 to 500 runs on Friday (Oct. 25)," Tharp replied. "Halloween, itself, is not a good movie day, but having movies like this in the (pre-Halloween) marketplace that are both scary and fun helps a lot." Asked if the World Series had hurt at the box office, Tharp said, "I didn't notice a lot of impact. It might have had a slight negative impact, but not much." Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama held on to second place in its third week, still looking good with an ESTIMATED $9.6 million (-32%) at 3,282 theaters (-31 theaters; $2,926 per theater). Its cume is approximately $98.5 million, heading for $125 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon. Universal and Dino De Laurentiis's R rated thriller Red Dragon, presented in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, slid two pegs to third place in its third week with an ESTIMATED $8.8 million (-50%) at 3,307 theaters (-56 theaters; $2,660 per theater). Its cume is approximately $77.8 million, heading for $100 million. Directed by Brett Ratner, it stars Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding rose one slot to fourth place in its 27th week, still showing remarkably strong legs with an ESTIMATED $7.15 million (-15%) at 2,014 theaters (-2 theaters; $3,552 per theater). Its cume is approximately $169.3 million, heading for $185 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment's PG-13 rated thriller Abandon kicked off in an uneventful fifth place tie with a weak ESTIMATED $5.3 million at 2,341 theaters ($2,264 per theater). Written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, it stars Katie Holmes and Benjamin Bratt. Abandon is another in a series of recent under-performing openings from Paramount. It follows Four Feathers, the romantic historical action epic which opened poorly despite high hopes Sept. 20 to $6.9 million ($3,587 per theater). This summer was a disappointing one for Paramount, which July 19 launched InterMedia Films' expensive Harrison Ford submarine drama K-19: The Widowmaker to a modest $12.8 million ($4,519 per theater). Paramount failed to connect with family audiences earlier in the summer with Nickelodeon Films' animated feature Hey Arnold! The Movie, which opened June 28 to $5.7 million ($2,258 per theater). It did, however, do unexpectedly well, however, Aug. 2 with its late summer opening of the low budget urban appeal concert film Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat, grossing $7.4 million ($9,806 per theater). Fox Searchlight Pictures' PG-13 rated urban appeal romantic comedy Brown Sugar, which was third last week, tied for fifth place in its second week with a much less sweet ESTIMATED $5.3 million (-51%) at 1,378 theaters (+6 theaters; $3,853 per theater). Its cume is approximately $18.6 million. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, it stars Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. 20th Century Fox's PG-13 rated action drama The Transporter slipped three notches to seventh place in its second week with a quiet ESTIMATED $5.01 million (-45%) at 2,610 theaters (+37 theaters; $1,920 per theater). Its cume is approximately $17.1 million. Directed by Cory Yuen, it stars Jason Statham and Shu Qi. DreamWorks' PG-13 action comedy The Tuxedo, which was sixth last week, tied for eighth place in its fourth week with an unexciting ESTIMATED $4.1 million (-42%) at 2,424 theaters (-561 theaters; $1,691 per theater). Its cume is approximately $43.1 million. Directed by Kevin Donovan, it stars Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt. The G rated animated feature Jonah: A Veggie Tale Movie from Artisan's FHE Pictures and Big Idea Productions, which was eleventh last week, expanded and tied for eighth place in its third week with a still tasty ESTIMATED $4.1 million (+12%) at 1,581 theaters (+407 theaters; $2,593 per theater). Its cume is approximately $16.2 million. Directed by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, it was produced by Ameake Owens. "We expanded and we went up in gross, so we're very happy," Artisan distribution head Steve Rothenberg said Sunday morning. "We opened up the eastern seaboard this weekend. Te numbers were very solid in the Philadelphia and the Washington, D.C. branches (and) a little spotty in New England. But the bottom line is, the expansion worked. It helped boost our gross 12 percent from last weekend. We're on our way, hopefully, to around a $25 million gross (in domestic theaters)." Rounding out the Top Ten was Buena Vista/Disney's PG rated fantasy family film Tuck Everlasting, down two slots in its second week with a calm ESTIMATED $3.7 million (-29%) at 1,448 theaters ($2,583 per theater). Its cume is approximately $10.6 million. Directed by Jay Russell, it stars Alexis Bledel, Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek, Jonathan Jackson and William Hurt. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival via Sony's Screen Gems of the action comedy Formula 51 to a disappointing ESTIMATED $2.9 million at 1,857 theaters ($1,562 per theater). Directed by Ronny Yu, it stars Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle. The film was distributed in the U.S. by Screen Gems and in Canada by Alliance/Atlantis. "It's an acquisition of a film that has already been released in Europe under the title Fifty-First State and had some success in the U.K., but obviously we're disappointed with the results here," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing & distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning. Sony, however, won't get hurt by Formula's weak showing. "It is a no cost acquisition where our losses are limited to strictly a modest p&a campaign," Blake said. HBO Films and Newmarket Films' PG-13 rated comedy drama Real Women Have Curves kicked off to a hopeful ESTIMATED $0.18 million at 56 theaters ($3,277 per theater). Directed by Patricia Cardoso, it stars America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros and George Lopez. Sony Pictures Classics' R rated drama Auto Focus opened to a solid ESTIMATED $0.14 million at 11 theaters ($12,514 per theater). Directed by Paul Schrader, it stars Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe. Lions Gate Films' R rated drama The Grey Zone arrived to a slow ESTIMATED $24,000 at 8 theaters ($2,984 per theater). Written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson, it stars David Arquette, Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel and Mira Sorvino. SNEAK PREVIEWS There were no national sneak previews this weekend. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend Revolution Studios and Columbia's R rated romantic comedy drama Punch-Drunk Love expanded in its second week to a sizzling ESTIMATED $1.63 million at 78 theaters (+73 theaters; $20,897 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.2 million. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson. "It seems definitely ready to expand," Sony's Jeff Blake said Sunday. "We're going to expand next week on Oct. 25. We're going to really work on it Monday to try and come up with the right number, but we'll definitely be national. It certainly seems to be a great demand and we'll go out there and see what the right number (of theaters) should be. I would imagine somewhere in the 400 to 500 range. The first two steps have been absolutely spectacular. Certainly, a $20,000 average would be very respectable in step one and to have it in step two in 78 theaters, really including many middle America multiplexes is pretty terrific." United Artists' R rated satiric documentary Bowling For Columbine released via MGM widened in its second week with an outstanding ESTIMATED $0.77 million at 45 theaters (+37 theaters; $16,799 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.1 million. Written, produced and directed by Michael Moore, it won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Bowling will widen to 14 additional markets this Friday (Oct. 25). Buena Vista/ Disney's PG rated animated feature Spirited Away went wider in its fifth week with an okay ESTIMATED $0.5 million (-16%) at 151 theaters (+13 theaters; $3,514 per theater). Its cume is approximately $3.4 million. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it was the Golden Bear best picture winner at the Berlin International Film Festival. Spirited is the all-time top grossing film at the Japanese box office. United Artists' R rated dark comedy Igby Goes Down added one more theater in its fifth week with an okay ESTIMATED $0.35 million (-20%) at 156 theaters (+1 theater; $2,250 per theater). Its cume is approximately $3.8 million. Written and directed by Burr Steers, it stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman and Susan Sarandon. Igby will expand this Friday (Oct. 25) into another 12 markets, putting it in 168 theaters. Paramount Classics' R rated drama Bloody Sunday expanded in its third week to a grim ESTIMATED $0.1 million at 44 theaters (+31 theaters; $2,370 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.2 million. Written and directed by Paul Greengrass, it stars James Nesbitt. Warner Bros.' R rated crime comedy Welcome To Collinwood widened in its third week to a calm ESTIMATED $38,000 at 21 theaters (+9 theaters; $1,795 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.2 million. Written and directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, it stars William H. Macy, Isaiah Washington and Sam Rockwell. INTERNATIONAL Revolution Studios and Columbia's blockbuster XXX scored well at the international box office this weekend. Directed by Rob Cohen and produced by Neal H. Moritz, it stars Vin Diesel, Asia Argento and Marton Csokas. XXX has grossed about $141 million in domestic theaters. "It was a very big weekend for XXX internationally," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing & distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning. "It opened number one in the U.K., Germany and Spain over the weekend. It did $5.2 million in the U.K., which is very big, and $4.7 million in Germany, which also is very big. Nine territories opened this weekend and all nine were number one." XXX, Blake pointed out, has "now had 40 number one openings around the world. We're at $56 million (internationally now), so we're approaching $200 million worldwide. And with Japan and others still to come, it looks like we'll be at about $300 million worldwide." WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $84.28 million for the weekend, up about 8.11 percent from last year when they totaled $77.96 million. Key films were down about 16.22 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $100.6 million. Last year, Fox's opening week of From Hell was first with $11.01 million at 2,305 theaters ($4,779 per theater); and Sony's opening week of Riding In Cars With Boys was second with $10.4 million at 2,770 theaters ($3,756 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $21.4 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $24.6 million.
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Box Office Analysis: Oct. 13
October 20, 2002 1:50pm ESTColumbus may have discovered America, but Hollywood made its own big discovery at the Columbus Day weekend box office, which is that it doesn't pay to open too many films at once. Only two of the weekend's half-dozen wide openings managed to crack the Top Five. Despite all the new competition, it was Red Dragon that again took the biggest bite out of moviegoers' wallets with $17.6 million. Sweet Home Alabama remained a sexy second with $14.1 million. Brown Sugar, the sweetest of the new wide arrivals, finished third with $11.1 million. The Transporter rolled into fourth place with $9.2 million. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a jolly fifth with $7.9 million, off only 4 percent. With over $158 million on hand, it's heading for $175 million. The weekend's biggest box office punch came from Revolution Studios and Columbia's limited launch of Punch-Drunk Love with $380,000 at five theaters -- a mind boggling $76,000 per theater for the critically acclaimed Paul Thomas Anderson romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler. (For details, see OTHER OPENINGS below.) Despite the lack of any Top Five blockbuster openings, key films jumped 25.5 percent over last year -- $100.3 million versus $79.87 million. THE TOP TEN Universal and Dino De Laurentiis's R rated thriller Red Dragon, presented in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, topped the chart again in its second weekend with an ESTIMATED $17.61 million (-52%) at 3,363 theaters (+6 theaters; $5,235 per theater). Its cume is approximately $63.2 million. Directed by Brett Ratner, it stars Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. "We're very thankful that we're number one in a weekend where there's been seven new openings (at 200 or more theaters)," Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said Sunday morning. "The business (this weekend) is tremendous and might be $100 million when all is said and done. And having the number one film two weeks in a row with so many openings is something to be really grateful for." Dragon's 52 percent slide, she noted, is "not unusual for sequel or prequel films. It's not unusual for a film to take a drop like that. But with not much opening wide but one film next week, I think we're going to play out. We're at $62.2 million at the end of this weekend and this certainly will break $100 million. That puts it in the blockbuster category and it's something to celebrate." Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama fell one peg to second place in its second week, showing good legs with an ESTIMATED $14.1 million (-34%) at 3,313 theaters (+10 theaters; $4,256 per theater). Its cume is approximately $85.0 million, heading for $125 million or more in domestic theaters. Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon. Fox Searchlight Pictures' PG-13 rated urban appeal romantic comedy Brown Sugar opened in third place to a very promising ESTIMATED $11.05 million at 1,372 theaters ($8,054 per theater). Brown Sugar's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, it stars Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. "We're thrilled and ecstatic," Fox Searchlight Pictures distribution president Stephen Gilula said Sunday morning. "It's just an excellent result. It's a delightful PG-13 romantic comedy with a great ensemble cast and it has great music. We've gotten an excellent response. "We did a few exit surveys and we have an 85 percent definite recommend, which is superb. We also see signs of the film crossing over and spreading out from the core African-American audience so everything is very, very positive about this. It's a really strong movie that plays very well." Will Searchlight go wider with Brown Sugar? "We might," Gilula replied. "We will see this week, depending upon what the demand is as we examine more closely how well it did around the country. It is a very, very crowded marketplace, but we are seeing some evidence of cross over following in the footsteps of what Barbershop was able to do." Searchlight chose to take the film out this weekend, Gilula explained, because, "We knew there was a very strong core audience of African-American moviegoers who are very loyal when you have a good movie. And with our cast and (the fact that the film) tested very well and there was no other film (like it) coming in the market and it was already the fifth week of Barbershop, we were not too worried about the core constituency for this film. "We knew what we have and felt the other films would be competing with each other, not with us. We knew that we would not be competing for number one, given the strength of Red Dragon and Sweet Home Alabama. But based on our screen average and our number of screens, it's a terrific result." As for adding theaters, he said, "We will be talking about that tomorrow morning. I think there is a possibility of that. We just want to digest what's happened and see how far to go." 20th Century Fox's PG-13 rated action drama The Transporter kicked off in fourth place to an energetic ESTIMATED $9.15 million at 2,572 theaters ($3,558 per theater). Directed by Cory Yuen, it stars Jason Statham and Shu Qi. "A good start for a crowded weekend," Fox distribution president Bruce Snyder said Sunday morning. Who was on hand? "It was largely male, of course," Snyder replied. "63 percent male. And evenly divided by age, under-25 and over-25, which I found somewhat surprising. So it played even a little older than one might expect." IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding slid one slot to fifth place in its 26th week, still holding unbelievably well with an ESTIMATED $7.87 million (-4%) at 2,016 theaters (+45 theaters; $3,902 per theater). Its cume is approximately $158.4 million, heading for $175 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. DreamWorks' PG-13 action comedy The Tuxedo dropped three pegs to sixth in its third week, holding decently with an ESTIMATED $7.0 million (-30%) at 2,985 theaters (-37 theaters; $2,358 per theater). Its cume is approximately $37.0 million. Directed by Kevin Donovan, it stars Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Warner Bros.' PG-13 rated drama White Oleander arrived in seventh place to a calm ESTIMATED $5.66 million at 1,510 theaters ($3,745 per theater). Directed by Peter Kosminsky, it stars Alison Lohman, Robin Wright-Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer and Renee Zellweger. "The exits were very strong," Warner Bros. Distribution president Dan Fellman said Sunday morning. "The audience was about 65 percent female, but 50 percent were under the age of 25. A little bit younger than we had hoped for. The exits were all very positive. So we'll see what happens during the week. Ya-Ya (last summer's Warner Bros. hit "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) in some respects had a similar pattern in terms of audience mixture. (It had) a good reaction in that women came out strong during the week." Buena Vista/Disney's PG rated fantasy family film Tuck Everlasting opened in eighth place to a quiet ESTIMATED $5.5 million at 1,185 theaters ($4,658 per theater). Directed by Jay Russell, it stars Alexis Bledel, Ben Kingsley, Sissy Spacek, Jonathan Jackson and William Hurt. New Line Cinema's R rated drama Knockaround Guys opened ninth, knocked for a loop with an ESTIMATED $5.04 million at 1,806 theaters ($2,791 per theater). Written and directed by Brian Koppelman & David Levien, it stars Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Seth Green, Dennis Hopper and John Malkovich. Rounding out the Top Ten was MGM's PG-13 rated urban appeal comedy Barbershop, down five rungs in its fifth week with a shorter ESTIMATED $4.0 million (-39%) at 1,911 theaters (-265 theaters; $2,093 per theater). Its cume is approximately $65.4 million, heading for $75-80 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Tim Story, it stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Cedric The Entertainer. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of Lions Gate Films' R rated drama The Rules of Attraction to a soft ESTIMATED $2.4 million at 1,430 theaters ($1,678 per theater). Written and directed by Roger Avary, it stars James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Jessica Biel, Ian Somerhalder, Kip Pardue and Kate Bosworth. Miramax's G rated animated sequel Pokemon 4Ever opened to a weak ESTIMATED $0.68 million at 249 theaters ($2,710 per theater). Revolution Studios and Columbia's R rated romantic comedy drama Punch-Drunk Love kicked off to an outstanding ESTIMATED $0.38 million at 5 theaters ($76,000 per theater). Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson. "We've got a spectacular start for Punch-Drunk Love," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing & distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning. "It's really eye-popping. Just as a point of comparison (consider) two recent limited (releases). Royal Tenenbaums also was in five runs and did $277,000 for a $55,396 average. American Beauty, which took 16 runs, did $861,000 for a $53,846 average. Those are kind of the state-of-the-art limiteds with really what has to be considered terrific per screen averages in the mid-$50,000s. So to be in the mid-$70,000s is pretty exciting." Is this the biggest average ever for a limited release? "I've got two asterisks for you," Blake explained. "The first asterisk is that for over two runs, it certainly is the biggest -- with one exception. And that's (Disney's) Pocahontas, which had a stage show in both New York and L.A. (and averaged $448,286 per theater with six runs the weekend of June 16-18, 1995). But other than that, you can find a couple of (films with) two runs (that averaged more). For instance, (Fox's) Moulin Rouge had two runs at $83,000 average. But for over two runs and noting the one exception on Pocahontas, this is the biggest." Punch-Drunk Love is playing this weekend, he said, "in New York with two runs, L.A. with two runs and Toronto (at one theater). We'll be expanding (this Friday) to introduce it to several more cities and then going wider on Oct. 25 and wider still on Nov. 1. But this week, probably in the neighborhood of 85 runs in 11 cities." "We're playing just about the same number of seats in all five of these complexes," Revolution partner Tom Sherak said Sunday morning. "They're all somewhere between 750 and 800 seats. They're all about the same (in terms of grosses). In the Union Square (in New York), Friday was $26,100. Saturday was $30,800. The Paramount (in Toronto) was $26,600 (Friday) and Saturday was $27,700. Lincoln Square (in New York) was $20,800 (Friday) and then $27,600. "The Grove (in L.A.) was $25,300 (Friday) and then $26,500. And the Criterion (in Santa Monica) was $19,500 (Friday) and then $25,000. They're the same numbers in the same seats. That's what to me is amazing. It means that the capacity is all there at night and they're playing to the same amount of people wherever it is. Toronto sometimes can fall behind New York, but not (in this case)." Wherever Punch-Drunk Love has played to date, Sherak added, the critics have loved it: "It was in the Toronto Film Festival. It was the centerpiece in the New York Film Festival. I don't know a picture this year that's gotten the kind of overall reviews this picture's gotten. Time and Newsweek, Rolling Stone, L.A. Times, New York Times -- they're all great reviews. You're going to see that more and more. It's critically acclaimed. It's just incredible." Screen Gems' opening of its R rated romantic drama Swept Away made no box office waves, drowning with an ESTIMATED $0.375 million at 196 theaters ($1,913 per theater). Directed by Guy Ritchie, it stars Madonna, Adriano Giannini, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Bruce Greenwood. "Nobody gets hurt in this one," Sony's Jeff Blake said. "This was an $11 million negative, which we took a very cautious releasing strategy on. Really, there's no major exposure to anybody in this." United Artists' R rated satiric documentary Bowling For Columbine opened via MGM to a high scoring ESTIMATED $0.21 million at 8 theaters in New York and L.A. ($25,750 per theater). Written, produced and directed by Michael Moore, it won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Miramax's Dimension Films opened its R rate horror film Below to a below par ESTIMATED $0.2 million at 168 theaters ($1,190 per theater). Directed by David Twohy, it stars Matt Davis and Bruce Greenwood. Miramax's R rated comedy Comedian opened to a very funny ESTIMATED $61,000 at 4 theaters ($15,250 per theater). Directed by Christian Charles, it stars Jerry Seinfeld. SNEAK PREVIEWS This weekend saw DreamWorks hold 400 sneak previews Saturday night of its PG-13 rated horror thriller The Ring. Directed by Gore Verbinski, it stars Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson and Brian Cox. "From a capacity standpoint, the average was about 70 percent overall with about 10 percent of them selling out," DreamWorks distribution head Jim Tharp said Sunday morning. "It was 58 percent male and 42 percent female, fairly evenly split under and over 25. In the definite recommend area, it was above average for everyone and substantially above average for the under-25 group." Ring opens wide this Friday (Oct. 18) at 1,800 to 2,000 theaters. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend Buena Vista/ Disney's PG rated animated feature Spirited Away went wider in its fourth week with an okay ESTIMATED $0.6 million (+2%) at 138 theaters (+41 theaters; $4,517 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.7 million. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it was the Golden Bear best picture winner at the Berlin International Film Festival. Spirited is the all-time top grossing film at the Japanese box office. Lions Gate Films' R rated kinky romance Secretary expanded in its fourth week with an appealing ESTIMATED $0.45 million (+13%) at 149 theaters (+43 theaters; $3,020 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.8 million. Directed by Steven Shainberg, it stars James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. United Artists' R rated dark comedy Igby Goes Down widened in its fourth week, holding well with an ESTIMATED $0.45 million (-8%) at 155 theaters (+8 theaters; $2,889 per theater). Its cume is approximately $3.3 million. Written and directed by Burr Steers, it stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman and Susan Sarandon. Focus Features' R rated French comedic whodunit 8 Women expanded in its fourth week, still showing good legs with an ESTIMATED $0.3 million (-15%) at 85 theaters (+3 theaters; $3,505 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.7 million. Directed by Francois Ozon, it stars Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $100.25 million for the weekend, up about 25.52 percent from last year when they totaled $79.87 million. Key films were down about 4.1 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $104.54 million. Last year, Warner Bros.' second week of Training Day was first with $13.39 million at 2,712 theaters ($4,936 per theater); and MGM's opening week of Bandits was second with $13.05 million at 3,207 theaters ($4,069 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $26.5 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $31.7 million.
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Box Office Analysis: Oct. 6
October 15, 2002 3:46pm ESTRed Dragon captured first place with a fiery $37.5 million, the biggest opening ever in the month of October. Sweet Home Alabama was a charming second with $21.6 million. The Tuxedo was a well pressed third with $10.1 million. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was fourth with $8.5 million, down only 10 percent. With a cume of $148 million now, it's heading for an astounding $175 million. Barbershop was still something to talk about in fifth place with $6.8 million. Driven by Dragon, key films were up 23.5 percent over last year -- $107.3 million versus $86.8 million. It was the first time an October weekend has grossed over $100 million. THE TOP TEN Universal and Dino De Laurentiis's R rated thriller Red Dragon, presented in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, opened in first place to a record setting ESTIMATED $37.48 million at 3,357 theaters ($11,165 per theater). Dragon's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. Directed by Brett Ratner, it stars Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. "This is the biggest October opening ever. Until now the record was (Universal's) Meet the Parents at $28.6 million (the weekend of Oct. 6-8, 2000)," Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said Sunday morning. "It's the biggest R rated fall opening ever. Before this, it was (Warner Bros.') Interview With the Vampire (the weekend of Nov. 11-13, 1994 with) $36.4 million. To have a $37.5 million opening at this time of year is very extraordinary. For the business, itself, to break over $100 million at the box office this weekend is extraordinary. And you have to credit this film for that. It's never been done. There's never been a $100 million weekend in October." Looking at the film's opening, Rocco noted, "Our expectations were fulfilled. We are very excited about the opening. I think the word of mouth is extraordinary. The CinemaScores were very, very strong. The exit polls are very strong. I think word of mouth is going to be exceptional on the film and I think the picture's going to have legs. When $37 million worth of audience starts to talk about how great this movie is, there's no doubt that it will be the choice for the fall." Rocco applauded Ratner "for creating this masterpiece. And I think that Dino and Martha DeLaurentiis have to be acknowledged for having the ability to continue the Hannibal Lecter story -- developing it and producing a film that moviegoers want to see about Hannibal Lecter. It goes without saying that Anthony Hopkins is such an extraordinary talent and I give him (great) credit for this classic and chilling character that he (brought to life) that's captured the moviegoing audience's attention for more than a decade." Who was on hand opening weekend? "Believe it or not, on Saturday night it was evenly divided (in terms of) the age of 30 -- 51 percent under 30 and 49 percent over 30. It was exactly 50-50 on males-females." Dragon should benefit in terms of word of mouth from the fact that while it is scary, it's not gruesome or gory. Hannibal was difficult for some moviegoers to look at, but Dragon is a more accessible movie, especially to adults and to women in general. Hannibal kicked off via MGM to $58 million the weekend of Feb. 9-11, 2001 and went on to gross approximately $165 million in domestic theaters. Asked about those who were speculating that Dragon would open in line with Hannibal, Rocco emphasized that Dragon is "not a sequel. It's not a sequel to Hannibal. It's not a sequel to Silence of the Lambs. So, therefore, the expectations shouldn't have been that it would play like a sequel." Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama fell one peg to second place in its second week, showing good legs with an ESTIMATED $21.6 million (-39%) at 3,303 theaters (+10 theaters; $6,541 per theater). Its cume is approximately $65.6 million. Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas. DreamWorks' PG-13 action comedy The Tuxedo slipped one rung to third place in its second week, holding nicely with an ESTIMATED $10.1 million (-33%) at 3,022 theaters (theater count unchanged; $3,341 per theater). Its cume is approximately $28.1 million. Directed by Kevin Donovan, it stars Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding held on to fourth place in its 25th week, continuing to show amazingly strong legs with an ESTIMATED $8.48 million (-10%) at 1,971 theaters (+130 theaters; $4,304 per theater). Its cume is approximately $148.0 million, heading for $175 million in domestic theaters. Wedding has now passed the $140.5 million record set by Artisan Entertainment's The Blair Witch Project and ranks as the top grossing independent film ever at the domestic office. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. "Down 10 percent in week 25!" IFC distribution president Rob Schwartz said Sunday morning. "I'm thinking at least $175 million at this point. We'll have to revisit it after next week. Next week (with so many new films coming into the marketplace) makes me a little nervous, but if this film holds true to form, everyone who opens next week is going to do what they do and maybe take a little steam off of us, but then they'll start dropping off or falling behind us pretty quickly. So I wouldn't put $175 million out of reach at all. I think that's a realistic number." Asked about the buzz in Hollywood that Greek Wedding looks like a contender for Golden Globe and Oscar attention in various key categories, Schwartz agreed, "I think there are a lot of possibilities out there. It's definitely something that's being strategically hashed out right now." Assessing the film's success, Schwartz noted, "I think it's really the universality of the picture and that it speaks to everyone. Everyone loves it. It could be My Big Fat Italian Wedding, My Big Fat Irish Wedding, My Big Fat Jewish Wedding. It speaks to everyone the same way. It's just universal the way it touches people. The timing was just right for this kind of film. "Everything was about Star Wars and Spider-Man this summer and the big blockbusters, as per usual. This was the only thing for a while in its demographic. It was just a nice mainstream type of film that people hadn't been seeing in a while. Studios and independents alike have been taking care to provide something edgy or different and it looks like the audience just wanted to see something normal, something that they could relate to." MGM's PG-13 rated urban appeal comedy Barbershop dropped two notches to fifth place in its fourth week, still looking good with an ESTIMATED $6.8 million (-32%) at 2,176 theaters (+125 theaters; $3,125 per theater). Its cume is approximately $60.2 million, heading for $75-80 million in domestic theaters. Directed by Tim Story, it stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Cedric The Entertainer. The G rated animated feature Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie from Artisan's FHE Pictures and Big Idea Productions opened in sixth place to a very ripe ESTIMATED $6.5 million at 940 theaters ($6,915 per theater). Directed by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki, it was produced by Ameake Owens. "We're remarkably happy with these results," Artisan distribution head Steve Rothenberg said Sunday morning. Jonah's strong showing in sixth place, he said, "is remarkable given that most of the films we're around have two, three or four times the number of screens we've got. So clearly we performed at a number that we're very happy with." Asked about the film's release at only 940 theaters, Rothenberg explained, "We tried to be very strategic with our plan. The reason we went with 940 is that when we analyzed the (big selling) videos that the series is based on -- they've been around for about 10 years -- they didn't have very good penetration in the northeast. So we decided we would put all our concentration of marketing dollars and promotional effort with church groups and other organizations in the south, the mid-west and the west, where the strength had been. "So we didn't open the New York branch, the Boston branch, the Philly branch, the D.C. branch. Now that the success is obviously there, we're going to expand on Oct. 18. We're going to take a break this weekend -- as you know, it's suicidal. There are six movies that I show that are going (to open) with at least 1,000 or more screens. It's going to be crazy out there. On the 18th, we're going to come into the northeast and give it a shot there." Focusing on Jonah, he said, "These are animated vegetables. A series of recurring characters over the last decade that (were created by) Big Ideas. Essentially what they do is tell Bible stories, but they do them with a Monty Pythonesque sense of humor. It's really a very brilliant marketing ploy because they can now get families to sit and watch them. Kids like them because they're singing and dancing vegetables that tell simple Bible stories, but the adults can be entertained because the humor is very Pythonesque and will make you laugh out loud as an adult. It's their first foray into features and clearly their fan base came out in droves. "The exit polls were very encouraging. They basically confirmed what our research screenings in the past had showed, which is that the fans loved the movie. The people who see this film are loving it because it's an expanded version of what they've seen in the videos with beautiful CGI animation. The numbers were absolutely wonderful so we know that the people who saw it will like it and now we're just hoping they'll spread the word to the people who are 'non-converted,' who don't know about the series but certainly are in search of good family entertainment." Artisan's timing was good, as well, he added: "We specifically planned not to go in the summer. We knew the summer was crazy with kids' films once a week. We didn't want to go in September for two reasons. Number one, we wanted some distance between the summer films. And, secondly, back-to-school time is probably the worst time to come out with family stuff. "We figured Oct. 4 would be a great time to go. It would get us out of that September period and give us a six or seven week cushion from the last youth oriented film, which was Spy Kids 2. (We felt) the timing was right, the marketplace was ready and, clearly, at least initially the numbers back that up." Fox Searchlight Pictures' R rated low budget comedy The Banger Sisters fell two rungs to seventh place in its third week with a dull ESTIMATED $3.57 million (-34%) at 2,530 theaters (-208 theaters; $1,411 per theater). Its cume is approximately $24.4 million. Written and directed by Bob Dolman, it stars Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush. Paramount and Miramax's PG-13 rated very expensive romantic epic The Four Feathers slipped two rungs in its third week to eighth place with a very disappointing ESTIMATED $2.1 million (-41%) at 2,187 theaters (theater count unchanged; $953 per theater). Its cume is approximately $15.6 million. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, it stars Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley and Kate Hudson. Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated drama Moonlight Mile went wider in its second week, placing ninth with an encouraging ESTIMATED $2.0 million at 434 theaters (+412 theaters; $4,614 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.4 million. Written and directed by Brad Silberling, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon and Holly Hunter. Rounding out the Top 10 was Fox Searchlight Pictures' R rated low budget thriller One Hour Photo, down three slots in its seventh week with a calm ESTIMATED $1.72 million (-43%) at 1,261 theaters (-46 theaters; $1,364 per theater). Its cume is approximately $28.8 million. Written and directed by Mark Romanek, it stars Robin Williams. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of Warner Bros.' R rated crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood to a hopeful ESTIMATED $82,000 at 16 theaters ($5,125 per theater). Written and directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, it stars William H. Macy, Isaiah Washington and Sam Rockwell. "This movie was produced by George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh and their company Section Eight," Warner Bros. Distribution executive vice president Jeff Goldstein said Sunday morning. "They've made money available to young upcoming writers and directors. The writer and director (of Collinwood) are two brothers, Joe and Anthony Russo, and this is their debut. They're solid numbers -- nice and strong. We're in five different markets and it's a nice specialized film for a specialized market. We feel good about the numbers." Will Warners go wider with the film? "We had originally set it for (expansion on) Oct. 18," Goldstein replied. "So between Oct. 18 and 25, we're going to roll out other markets." Miramax's R rated thriller Heaven opened to an encouraging ESTIMATED $54,000 at 4 theaters ($13,500 per theater). Directed by Tom Tykwer, it stars Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi. SNEAK PREVIEWS There were no national sneak previews this weekend. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend Buena Vista/ Disney's PG rated animated feature Spirited Away went wider in its third week with an encouraging ESTIMATED $0.63 million at 97 theaters (+44 theaters; $6,492 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.9 million. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it was the Golden Bear best picture winner at the Berlin International Film Festival. Spirited is the all-time top grossing film at the Japanese box office. United Artists' R rated dark comedy Igby Goes Down expanded quietly in its fourth week with an ESTIMATED $0.51 million (-17%) at 147 theaters (+26 theaters; $3,443 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.7 million. Written and directed by Burr Steers, it stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman and Susan Sarandon. Lions Gate Films' R rated kinky romance Secretary expanded in its third week with an attractive ESTIMATED $0.38 million (+4%) at 101 theaters (+48 theaters; $3,730 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.2 million. Directed by Steven Shainberg, it stars James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Focus Features' R rated French comedic whodunit 8 Women expanded in its third week with a still charming ESTIMATED $0.36 million (+17%) at 82 theaters (+25 theaters; $4,380 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.2 million. Directed by Francois Ozon, it stars Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $107.25 million for the weekend, up about 23.53 percent from last year when they totaled $86.82 million. Key films were up about 11.91 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $95.84 million. Last year, Warner Bros.' opening week of Training Day was first with $22.55 million at 2,712 theaters ($8,315 per theater); and Miramax's opening week of Serendipity was second with $13.31 million at 2,601 theaters ($5,117 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $35.9 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $59.1 million.
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Box Office Analysis: Sept. 29
October 09, 2002 11:18am ESTThe South invaded the North end of the box office chart this weekend as Sweet Home Alabama captured first place with a dazzling $37.5 million. The Tuxedo celebrated in second place with a $15.1 million launch. Barbershop finished third, holding well with $10.1 million. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was fourth with $9.8 million and a cume of $137 million on its way to $160 million, while The Banger Sisters retreated to fifth place with a sleepy $5.4 million. Driven by Alabama, key films skyrocketed 43 percent over last year -- $99 million versus $74 million. THE TOP TEN Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama kicked off in first place to a record setting ESTIMATED $37.5 million at 3,293 theaters ($11,378 per theater). Alabama's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. Directed by Andy Tennant, it stars Reese Witherspoon. The record setting opening elevated Witherspoon to Hollywood's A List of movie stars who can generate long opening weekend box office lines. With $37.5 million already in hand, Alabama is a safe bet to crack $100 million in domestic theaters. Given its opening, it would seem at this point that the low end is probably $115 million and the high end is probably $130 million. Using the industry's most basic projection formula of three times the opening weekend gross would put Alabama's likely domestic cume at $112.5 million, a number that feels low given the heat of opening weekend. More accurate projections of where Alabama is heading will be possible when we know how well it holds in its second weekend. Coming on the heels of BV's success with its late summer blockbuster Signs, which has grossed over $221 million through this weekend, Alabama is another strong indication that the Disney company's movie division is performing very well, is well managed and is a strong competitor. Alabama is also good news for MGM, which has Witherspoon starring in the sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde, opening next July Fourth weekend. "It's been quite a weekend for us," Buena Vista Distribution president Chuck Viane said Sunday morning. "Spirited Away continues (and) looks great and Moonlight Mile opened very nice and smartly. We're going to expand that to 400 runs next week. And then Reese opens up and blows the doors off of September! What more can you say?" Focusing on Alabama's sweet launch, Viane noted, "It's the highest September opening in history. The old one was the original Rush Hour at $33 million (the weekend of Sept. 18-20, 1998). So this clearly blows away that." In addition, looking at the record books indicates that Alabama probably also ranks as the biggest romantic comedy opening ever, beating Runaway Bride's $35.06 million opening the weekend of July 30-Aug. 1, 1999. While Disney knew Alabama was on track to open big, was the studio surprised at just how well the picture performed? "We knew it was going to open very, very well," Viane replied. "I knew we had a shot at the (September) record, but to be able to surpass it like this, that's what caught me off-guard. It's the absolute strength of the movie. We knew it was good. Obviously, we put (Reese Witherspoon) in the right vehicle and Andy Tennant made a great movie. But this is America's new sweetheart. Anyway you look at it, she just dominated this movie. She smiled and everything happened." As for who was there opening weekend, Viane said, "Actually, from 12 to 80. It was everybody. Again, there are new types of family movies and this is one of them. It's a rating friendly movie (with a PG-13) families had every reason to believe everybody would like it. Friday night the teens came out. Last night and yesterday afternoon the families came out. Last night the adults came out and couples. Interestingly enough, even on Saturday night some 30 percent-plus of our audience was teenagers. That's very strong for a Saturday." Pointing to the film's CinemaScore exit polls, Viane said, "Every group gave it an A. The men were all A minuses and the women were all A's. The playability is terrific. I think it's going to have big time legs. Do I know there's a huge picture (Universal's Red Dragon) coming in next week? Yes. But I think we're demographically sufficiently different and crowd pleasing, so I think we'll be there for a long time." DreamWorks' PG-13 action comedy The Tuxedo opened in second place to a well dressed ESTIMATED $15.1 million at 3,022 theaters ($4,997 per theater). Directed by Kevin Donovan, it stars Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt. "It's a good opening," DreamWorks distribution head Jim Tharp said Sunday morning. "Going in, we were looking at (Jackie Chan's) Shanghai Noon as a comparison. This compares very favorably to their opening, which was on a holiday weekend ($19.65 million for the four day Memorial Day weekend of May 26-29, 2000)." Asked if DreamWorks was pleased, Tharp observed, "We had to be pleased since the The Tuxedo gross was very close to the opening of Shanghai Noon, which opened on a holiday weekend." Those on hand, Tharp noted, were "55 percent male. 44 percent of the audience was families, which is very high. 54 percent were under 25. It should continue to be the family movie of choice for the next few weeks." MGM's PG-13 rated urban appeal comedy Barbershop fell two pegs to third place in its third week, still holding well with an ESTIMATED $10.1 million (-21%) at 2,051 theaters (+157 theaters; $4,924 per theater). Its cume is approximately $51.4 million, heading for $65 million or more in domestic theaters. Directed by Tim Story, it stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Cedric The Entertainer. IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding slid one slot to fourth place in its 24th week, still showing great legs with an ESTIMATED $9.77 million (even) at 1,841 theaters (-12 theaters; $5,307 per theater). Its cume is approximately $137.0 million, heading for $160 million in domestic theaters. When Wedding passes $140.5 million later this week it will break the record set by Artisan Entertainment's The Blair Witch Project and become the domestic box office's biggest grossing independent film ever. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Fox Searchlight Pictures' R rated low budget comedy The Banger Sisters slid three rungs to fifth place in its second week with a less lively ESTIMATED $5.43 million (-46%) at 2,738 theaters (theater count unchanged; $1,981 per theater). Its cume is approximately $18.8 million. Written and directed by Bob Dolman, it stars Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush. Paramount and Miramax's PG-13 rated very expensive romantic epic The Four Feathers added theaters in its second week and fell one notch to sixth place with a depressing ESTIMATED $3.63 million (-47%) at 2,187 theaters ($1,658 per theater). Its cume is approximately $12.5 million. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, it stars Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley and Kate Hudson. Fox Searchlight Pictures' R rated low budget thriller One Hour Photo dropped one slot to seventh place in its sixth week with a quiet ESTIMATED $3.0 million (-35%) at 1,303 theaters (-29 theaters; $2,302 per theater). Its cume is approximately $26.1 million. Written and directed by Mark Romanek, it stars Robin Williams. Franchise Films' R rated action thriller Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever from Warner Bros. plunged four posts to eighth place with a dull ESTIMATED $2.68 million (-62%) at 2,705 theaters (theater count unchanged; $989 per theater). Its cume is approximately $11.5 million. Directed by "Kaos" and produced by Elie Samaha, Chris Lee and "Kaos," it stars Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu. Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated supernatural thriller blockbuster Signs dropped two pegs to ninth place in its ninth week with an okay ESTIMATED $2.3 million (-33%) at 1,783 theaters (-555 theaters; $1,307 per theater). Its cume is approximately $221.1 million, heading for $230 million. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, it stars Mel Gibson. There was a three way tie for tenth place in Sunday's estimates. Revolution Studios and Columbia's low budget PG-13 teen comedy Stealing Harvard, which was ninth last weekend, in its fourth week did a quiet ESTIMATED $1.5 million (-55%) at 2,323 theaters (-43 theaters; $646 per theater). Its cume is approximately $12.7 million. Directed by Bruce McCulloch, it stars Tom Green and Jason Lee. 20th Century Fox's PG-13 thriller Swimfan, which was eighth last week, in its fourth week did a soft ESTIMATED $1.5 million (-56%) at 1,838 theaters (-734 theaters; $816 per theater). Its cume is approximately $26.6 million. Directed by John Polson, it stars Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen and Shiri Appleby. Senator Entertainment and Columbia's R rated child kidnapping thriller Trapped, which was tenth last week, did in its second week a slim ESTIMATED $1.5 million (-53%) at 2,227 theaters (theater count unchanged; $674 per theater). Its cume is approximately $5.7 million. Directed by Luis Mandoki, it stars Charlize Theron, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend and Kevin Bacon. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of Buena Vista/ Touchstone's PG-13 rated drama Moonlight Mile in limited release to an encouraging ESTIMATED $0.35 million at 22 theaters ($15,779 per theater). Written and directed by Brad Silberling, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon and Holly Hunter. "It's an emotional film, very smart and very adult," Buena Vista Distribution's Chuck Viane said Sunday. "Brad Silberling did an absolutely terrific job. When you have people like Dustin and Susan and Jake and Holly and Ellen (Pompeo) in a movie (it makes a difference). "Brad was at the Archlight (multiplex in Hollywood) yesterday. He was actually doing a personal one-on-one after the movie with the audience. They are really pleased about it. So we're expanding this (coming) weekend. We're going to pick up an additional 400 runs in every major city in America. We're going to be in the top 60 markets in the country. We'll be somewhere between 420 and 450 runs. The picture's playing great. The Archlight started Friday at $9,800 and went to $17,700 last night -- and nobody knew Brad was going to be there. I think this is a really good start. I'm really looking forward to the expansion on this one." SNEAK PREVIEWS There were no national sneak previews this weekend. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend United Artists' R rated dark comedy Igby Goes Down widened in its third week with an upbeat ESTIMATED $0.69 million (-10%) at 121 theaters (+19 theaters; $5,672 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.1 million. Written and directed by Burr Steers, it stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman and Susan Sarandon. "We're going to go into 21 more markets on Friday," an MGM spokesman said Sunday morning. "That should bring us to like 140 theaters." Lions Gate Films' R rated kinky romance Secretary expanded in its second week with a sexy ESTIMATED $0.38 million at 53 theaters (+42 theaters; $7,075 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.65 million. Directed by Steven Shainberg, it stars James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. "It's probably heading to somewhere between $4-5 million on the art house circuit," Lions Gate president Tom Ortenberg said Sunday morning. "We'll see what happens on the next couple of spreads. We're adding more runs on Oct. 4 and 11 and will probably reach our widest point on Oct. 18. Then we'll see how far outside the big cities we can go." Buena Vista/ Disney's PG rated animated feature Spirited Away went wider in its second week, still in high spirits with an ESTIMATED $0.52 million at 53 theaters (+27 theaters; $9,827 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.1 million. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it was the Golden Bear best picture winner at the Berlin International Film Festival. Spirited Away is the all-time top grossing film at the Japanese box office. Focus Features' R rated French comedic whodunit 8 Women expanded in its second week with a still attractive ESTIMATED $0.3 million at 57 theaters (+40 theaters; $5,630 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.8 million. Directed by Francois Ozon, it stars Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. Paramount Classics' PG rated German romantic comedy Mostly Martha went wider in its seventh week with a weak ESTIMATED $0.3 million at 143 theaters (+12 theaters; $2,225 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.6 million. Written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck, it stars Martina Gedeck. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $99.01 million for the weekend, up about 43.12 percent from last year when they totaled $69.18 million. Key films were up about 33.6 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $74.11 million. Last year, Fox's opening week of Don't Say A Word was first with $17.09 million at 2,802 theaters ($6,099 per theater); and Paramount's opening week of Zoolander was second with $15.53 million at 2,507 theaters ($6,193 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $32.6 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $52.6 million.
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Box Office Analysis: Sept. 22
September 22, 2002 4:27pm ESTNone of this weekend's four wide openings cut short Barbershop's first place reign, leaving it atop the chart with $13.3 million. The Banger Sisters opened with a bang in second place with $10.3 million. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a fat third with $10 million and a $124 million cume heading for $150 million. Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever >and The Four Feathers opened in a fourth place tie with a featherweight $7.1 million each. Trapped, the weekend's other wide opening, placed tenth with a subdued $3.2 million. Even with no huge openings, key films soared 41.5 percent over last year -- $75 million versus $53 million. The comparison is misleading, however, since ticket sales a year earlier were depressed in the wake of 9/11. THE TOP TEN MGM's PG-13 rated urban appeal comedy Barbershop held on to the top spot in its second week with a solid ESTIMATED $13.3 million (-36%) at 1,894 theaters (+289 theaters; $7,022 per theater). Its cume is approximately $38.9 million. Directed by Tim Story, it stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Cedric The Entertainer. Barbershop's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. Focusing on the low budget Barbershop's good hold, a competing studio marketing president said the picture is clearly attracting mainstream moviegoers as well as its urban core audience. "What that says to me," he observed, "is that it's crossing over to young males -- not African-Americans, but just young males. You can't hold like that without that." Fox Searchlight Pictures' R rated low budget comedy The Banger Sisters opened in second place to a sexy ESTIMATED $10.3 million at 2,736 theaters ($3,763 per theater). Written and directed by Bob Dolman, it stars Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush. "We're very, very pleased," Fox Searchlight distribution president Stephen Gilula said Sunday morning. "Essentially, we more than grossed our production budget on opening weekend. For a film that's had a pretty narrow but very targeted audience to end up number two for the weekend, we're just thrilled." Banger's launch, Gilula added, "is also a record for Searchlight. It's the biggest opening in Searchlight history. (The previous biggest) was a week ago with the $8 million for One Hour Photo. So two weeks in a row we set and broke our own records." Asked if Searchlight will go any wider with Banger, Gilula replied, "I think we're as wide as we need to be. In fact, that's wider than we had intended. But the demand for the film was so high after we screened it for exhibitors that we went up to 2,700 (plus theaters). "Originally, we thought we'd be in 2,300 to 2,500. But partly because (there are so) few films in the marketplace toward the end of the summer we had a lot of demand, so we went up that high. So we won't be adding theaters." IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a close third, down one peg in its 23rd week with a still enviable ESTIMATED $10.01 million (-7%) at 1,853 theaters (+89 theaters; $4,501 per theater). Its cume is approximately $124.3 million, heading for $160 million in domestic theaters. Wedding should break the $140.5 million record set by Artisan Entertainment's The Blair Witch Project as the domestic box office's biggest grossing independent film ever. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Franchise Films' R rated action thriller Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever arrived via Warner Bros. in a fourth place tie with a soft ESTIMATED $7.11 million at 2,705 theaters ($2,628 per theater). Ballistic, whose roots are in a popular video game, reportedly had a production budget of about $70 million. Directed by Kaos and produced by Elie Samaha, Chris Lee and Kaos, it stars Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu. Paramount and Miramax's PG-13 rated very expensive romantic epic The Four Feathers opened in a tie for fourth place with an uneventful ESTIMATED $7.1 million at 1,912 theaters ($3,713 per theater). Directed by Shekhar Kapur, it stars Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley and Kate Hudson. "It's disappointing, but I just got the exit polls and it played pretty well," Paramount distribution president Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning. "The top two boxes are 74 percent excellent and very good and 22 percent are good. So it's all positive. There is virtually no fair or poor." The exits indicate, Lewellen added, the audience opening weekend was "roughly 50-50 male-female. The audience was a little over 70 percent over-25, so it's definitely an older audience. Women scored it higher than men in their definite recommends. Any time you've got a film that appeals to an older audience, it's tough to get them out there quickly." Paramount will add about 300 more theaters in smaller markets to Feathers' run this week as a second wave that it hopes will benefit from favorable word of mouth spreading. Fox Searchlight Pictures' R rated low budget thriller One Hour Photo slid three clicks to sixth place in its fifth week, still in the picture with an okay ESTIMATED $4.73 million (-41%) at 1,332 theaters (+120 theaters; $3,547 per theater). Its cume is approximately $21.8 million. Written and directed by Mark Romanek, it stars Robin Williams. "One Hour Photo had a fabulous fifth week," Fox Searchlight's Stephen Gilula said. "This is just terrific. With four new movies coming into the marketplace in our fifth week, it's an excellent hold. In particular, for the screen average to be holding this high in the fifth week is terrific. We think we're going to get to $30 million or better for this film, which is tremendous. This (had a budget) of around $12 million, so this is a tremendous success for us. "If it gets to $30 million, it (will become) the second biggest film in the U.S. for Searchlight since The Full Monty, so we're thrilled with that. Full Monty did $45 million." Gilula also pointed out that Searchlight has The Good Girl in the marketplace, which has a cume of $12.8 million in its seventh week. "What's interesting is that on the three films (Banger, Photo and Girl) we had a total of 4,600 theaters across the country playing our movies this weekend, which is also a Searchlight record." Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated supernatural thriller blockbuster Signs, which was sixth last weekend, tied for seventh place in its eighth week with a calm ESTIMATED $3.5 million (-34%) at 2,338 theaters (-713 theaters; $1,497 per theater). Its cume is approximately $218.0 million, heading for $225 million. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, it stars Mel Gibson. Revolution Studios and Columbia's low budget PG-13 teen comedy Stealing Harvard, which was fifth last week, tied for seventh place in its second week with a slow ESTIMATED $3.5 million (-42%) at 2,366 theaters (theater count unchanged; $1,479 per theater). Its cume is approximately $10.8 million. Directed by Bruce McCulloch, it stars Tom Green and Jason Lee. 20th Century Fox's PG-13 thriller Swimfan, which was fourth last week, was a very close ninth in its third week with an ESTIMATED $3.45 million (-43%) at 2,573 theaters (-287 theaters; $1,341 per theater). Its cume is approximately $24.4 million. Directed by John Polson, it stars Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen and Shiri Appleby. Rounding out the Top Ten was the opening of Senator Entertainment's R rated child kidnapping thriller Trapped via Columbia with a not so thrilling ESTIMATED $3.2 million at 2,227 theaters ($1,437 per theater). Directed by Luis Mandoki, it stars Charlize Theron, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend and Kevin Bacon. "This was a domestic pick up. It was a film financed by Senator and we acquired domestic (rights) for a little less than $10 million," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing & distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning. "So while we're certainly disappointed in the results, it's certainly not a high exposure picture for us." OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of Buena Vista/ Disney's PG rated animated feature Spirited Away to a high spirited ESTIMATED $0.45 million at 26 theaters ($17,313 per theater). Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it was the Golden Bear best picture winner at the Berlin International Film Festival. Spirited is the all-time top grossing film at the Japanese box office. Lions Gate Films' R rated kinky romance Secretary opened to a slap happy ESTIMATED $0.19 million at 11 theaters ($17,273 per theater). Directed by Steven Shainberg, it stars James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal. "We open an additional 10 markets next week with more expansions on Oct. 4 and 11 coming up," Lions Gate president Tom Ortenberg said Sunday morning. "I think it went great. We had sell-outs on both coasts. Our grosses were only held down by the number of seats. There seems to be great demand for it. The movie seems really well positioned. It got really well reviewed and people seem to be talking about it. So we're thrilled." Focus Features' R rated French comedic whodunit 8 Women arrived to a glamorous ESTIMATED $87,000 at 7 theaters ($10,926 per theater). Directed by Francois Ozon, it stars Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. SNEAK PREVIEWS There were no national sneak previews this weekend. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend United Artists' R rated dark comedy Igby Goes Down widened in its second week with an upbeat ESTIMATED $0.84 million at 102 theaters (+92 theaters; $8,212 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.3 million. Written and directed by Burr Steers, it stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman and Susan Sarandon. Paramount Classics' PG rated German romantic comedy Mostly Martha went wider in its sixth week with a dull ESTIMATED $0.3 million (-12%) at 131 theaters (+30 theaters; $2,555 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.2 million. Written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck, it stars Martina Gedeck. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $75.05 million for the weekend, up about 41.54 percent from last year when in the wake of 9/11 they totaled a depressed $53.02 million. Key films were down about 3.47 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $77.74 million. Last year, Paramount's second week of Hardball was first with $8.06 million at 2,210 theaters ($3,646 per theater); and Dimension's opening week of The Others was second with $5.08 million at 2,801 theaters ($1,815 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $13.2 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $23.6 million.
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"Big Fat Greek Wedding" Heads for Small Screen
September 19, 2002 9:58am ESTIt was only a matter of time. Hot off its mass appeal at the box office, independent film My Big Fat Greek Wedding has been slated to become a midseason half-hour comedy series. CBS has ordered seven episodes but producers are negotiating to bump that up to 13. Star Nia Vardalos, upon whose one-woman stage show the film is based, will reprise her character in the CBS series, as well as act as co-executive producer. Marsh McCall, Vardalos' manager Brad Gray and Rita Wilson will act as executive producers. Wilson's involvement in Greek Wedding has become legendary. She first fell in love with Vardalos' stage show, took her hubby Tom Hanks to see it and they both decided to turn into a feature film. Variety reports the film, which cost about $5 million to make, has grossed more than $110 million at the North American box office and is well on its way in surpassing the $140 million mark achieved by The Blair Witch Project to become the highest-grossing indie film of all time. The series will follow along the same lines as the independent film, focusing on a woman dealing with her large Greek family while dating a non-Greek behind their backs. Michael Constantine and Lainie Kazan are also expected to reprise their roles as Vardalos' parents, as will Louis Mandylor as her brother. John Corbett, who played Vardalos' non-Greek love, already has his own upcoming series on F/X called Lucky. Gray told Variety the TV project "seemed like a wonderful CBS comedy. It seemed like it would complement their schedule very well. It has great warmth and is just very funny." And the show's chances? "It's become so popular around the country, it feels like there's even more potential and an audience that's been built around it," he said.
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Box Office Analysis: Sept. 15
September 16, 2002 3:17pm ESTBarbershop opened to a hair-raising $21 million that had the MGM lion roaring happily in first place. My Big Fat Greek Wedding continued celebrating in second place with $11 million. With nearly $111 million already in hand, it's heading for $140 million. One Hour Photo went wide and was an impressive third with $7.7 million. Stealing Harvard kicked off uneventfully in fourth place to $6.3 million. Swimfan sank into deeper box office waters, placing fifth in its second weekend with $6.1 million. Driven by Barbershop, key films (those grossing $500,000 or more) were up 30 percent from last year -- $77.6 million versus $59.5 million. It was Hollywood's first up weekend after eighth consecutive weekends in which business was down from last year. THE TOP TEN MGM's PG-13 rated urban appeal comedy Barbershop opened atop the chart to a head-turning ESTIMATED $21.0 million at 1,605 theaters ($13,084 per theater). Directed by Tim Story, it stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Cedric The Entertainer. Barbershop's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in wide release this weekend. A double-barreled success for us this weekend," MGM theatrical distribution president Eric Lomis said Sunday morning, referring to MGM's strong openings for both Barbershop and the limited release of United Artists' Igby Goes Down (see OTHER OPENINGS below). "Obviously, we're thrilled with the number," Lomis said about Barbershop. "I mean, $21 million for this movie is just through the roof. It's a great movie. People love it. The filmmakers did a tremendous job on it. We couldn't be more pleased with the opening. It's doing most of its business with African-Americans and Hispanics. However, it is crossing over. We have a lot of really strong numbers from cross-over houses. "And word of mouth is through the roof on this picture. The CinemaScores are great. The exit polls are great. And they're equally as great with both African-Americans and non-African-Americans. So we think the picture's going to run for a while. They delivered a great film. And the cast really worked hard on it. And (the result is) success." Asked if MGM will go wider with Barbershop, Lomis replied, "We're going to try to expand a little bit. We're everywhere now. We just didn't saturate the market with it. But we're going to try to take a few hundred more runs this week." IFC Films' release of Gold Circle Films and HBO's PG rated romantic comedy blockbuster My Big Fat Greek Wedding held on to second place in its 22nd week, still showing fantastic legs with an ESTIMATED $11.03 million (+6%) at 1,764 theaters (+69 theaters; $6,254 per theater). Its cume is approximately $110.7 million, heading for $140 million in domestic theaters. If Wedding can crack $140.53 million, it will overtake Artisan Entertainment's The Blair Witch Project to become the domestic box office's biggest grossing independent film ever. Directed by Joel Zwick, it stars Nia Vardalos and John Corbett. Fox Searchlight Pictures' R rated thriller One Hour Photo went wide in its fourth week, developing a very encouraging ESTIMATED $7.68 million at 1,212 theaters (+1,039 theaters; $6,337 per theater). Its cume is approximately $14.2 million. Written and directed by Mark Romanek, it stars Robin Williams. "It's great. The picture's really showing a lot of strength," a Fox Searchlight spokesman said Sunday morning. "Obviously, it's got excellent word of mouth because in the markets where we're already open it's holding very well." Revolution Studios and Columbia's PG-13 teen comedy Stealing Harvard opened uneventfully in fourth place to an ESTIMATED $6.3 million at 2,366 theaters ($2,663 per theater). Directed by Bruce McCulloch, it stars Tom Green and Jason Lee. "It's a modestly priced picture in the low $20 millions and we'll probably gross in that range and probably come out about even," Sony Pictures Entertainment worldwide marketing & distribution president Jeff Blake said Sunday morning. 20th Century Fox's PG-13 thriller Swimfan plunged four slots to fifth place in its second week with an ESTIMATED $6.07 million (-46%) at 2,859 theaters (+3 theaters; $2,123 per theater). Its cume is approximately $19.7 million. Directed by John Polson, it stars Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen and Shiri Appleby. Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated supernatural thriller blockbuster Signs fell two rungs to sixth place in its seventh week, still holding well with an ESTIMATED $5.3 million (-33%) at 3,051 theaters (-181 theaters; $1,725 per theater). Its cume is approximately $212.9 million, heading for $225 million. Directed by M Night Shyamalan, it stars Mel Gibson. Franchise Pictures R rated cop drama City by the Sea, released through Warner Bros., slid four slots to seventh place in its second week with a soggy ESTIMATED $4.78 million (-47%) at 2,575 theaters (theater count unchanged; $1,856 per theater). Its cume is approximately $16.6 million. Directed by Michael Caton-Jones, it stars Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand and James Franco. Revolution Studios and Columbia's PG-13 rated action adventure thriller xXx slipped three notches to eighth place in its sixth week with a quiet ESTIMATED $3.3 million (-37%) at 2,771 theaters (-317 theaters; $1,191 per theater). Its cume is approximately $135.4 million, heading for the low-to-mid $140 millions. Directed by Rob Cohen and produced by Neal H Moritz, it stars Vin Diesel, Asia Argento and Marton Csokas. Miramax/Dimension Films' PG rated family comedy sequel Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams fell three pegs to ninth place in its sixth week with a soft ESTIMATED $2.4 million (-21%) at 2,493 theaters (-328 theaters; $962 per theater). Its cume is approximately $77.1 million. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, it stars Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino. Rounding out the Top Ten was New Line's PG-13 rated comedy sequel Austin Powers in Goldmember, down two pegs in its eighth week with a dull ESTIMATED $1.8 million (-34%) at 1,811 theaters (-291 theaters; $994 per theater). Its cume is approximately $209.5 million. Directed by Jay Roach, it stars Mike Myers, Beyonce Knowles and Michael Caine. OTHER OPENINGS This weekend also saw the arrival of United Artists' R rated dark comedy Igby Goes Down to a sizzling ESTIMATED $0.32 million at 10 theaters ($31,918 per theater). Written and directed by Burr Steers, it stars Kieran Culkin, Claire Danes, Jeff Goldblum, Jared Harris, Amanda Peet, Ryan Phillippe, Bill Pullman and Susan Sarandon. "Igby Goes Down was released only in New York and L.A.," MGM's Eric Lomis said Sunday morning. The film's average of nearly $32,000 per theater, he added, "is as good as it gets with these kinds of films. The critics and the audiences are all responding to it. That will be expanding this week, probably to about 100 theaters in 20 cities. "We are equally as thrilled with Igby (as with the chart-topping launch of Barbershop) although obviously it's a much smaller scale. But it's a huge success for that film and that director, as well. Burr Steers directed it. It's a really good movie. He gave us a strong film and audiences love it." Sony Pictures Classics' R rated Chinese drama Quitting opened to a slow ESTIMATED $8,000 at 5 theaters ($1,664 per theater). Directed by Zhang Yang, it was an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival. SNEAK PREVIEWS There were no national sneak previews this weekend. EXPANSIONS On the expansion front this weekend Focus Features' romantic drama Possession added a few more theaters in its fifth week with a quiet ESTIMATED $0.7 million (-24%) at 619 theaters (+3 theaters; $1,195 per theater). Its cume is approximately $9.0 million. Directed by Neil LaBute, it stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. Paramount Classics' PG rated German romantic comedy Mostly Martha went wider in its fifth week with a calm ESTIMATED $0.4 million at 101 theaters (+31 theaters; $3,940 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.7 million. Written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck, it stars Martina Gedeck. WEEKEND COMPARISONS Key films -- those grossing more than $500,000 -- took in approximately $77.61 million for the weekend, up about 30.44 percent from last year when they totaled $59.5 million. Key films were up about 15.75 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $67.05 million. Last year, Paramount's opening week of Hardball was first with $9.39 million at 2,137 theaters ($4,392 per theater); and Sony's opening week of The Glass House was second with $5.74 million at 1,591 theaters ($3,607 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $15.1 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $32.0 million.
