Not that Jeepers Creepers looks set to enjoy a second lucrative weekend. Executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola, of all people, this rote bloodbath set a Labor Day weekend-opening record of $15.8 million. That's almost twice that of the $8.1 million taken in 1996 by The Crow: City of Angels.
Those looking for a good scare most likely turned out last weekend for Jeepers Creepers--as is the norm for low-budget horror flicks--and will sample Soul Survivors or return to see Nicole Kidman's cerebral chiller,The Others this weekend. Still, expect the Creeper to rear his ugly head again, given that the film's $17.5 million gross through Wednesday justifies a sequel.
After dominating the August box office, Rush Hour 2, American Pie 2, The Princess Diaries and The Others should start to wind down their runs.
On Wednesday, Rush Hour 2 became the third film this year to make $200 million--$200.1 million, to be exact--and should surpass The Mummy Returns' $201.5 million this weekend. That would make Rush Hour 2 the year's second-highest grossing film, behind Shrek.
American Pie 2--cooling, but still a tasty proposition--has earned $126 million through Wednesday, $25 million than its predecessor. At $93.4 million, The Princess Diaries is the summer's biggest non-action sleeper and stands to make $100 million by next weekend. The Others continues its impressive run, having garnered $61 million through Wednesday.
With much to choose from this weekend, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back ($22.9 million), "O" ($7.7 million) and Summer Catch ($14.8 million) look set to take sharp tumbles.
The oft-delayed "O", in particular, failed to connect. Perhaps audiences who were perhaps longing for another accessible racially tinged romance, a la Save the Last Dance, shied away after discovering that this controversial drama is an almost faithful interpretation of Othello, just set in a prep school.