Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated comedy Corky Romano opened in third place to an encouraging ESTIMATED $9.3 million at 2,062 theaters ($4,510 per theater). The film reportedly only cost $11 million to produce.
Directed by Rob Prits and produced by Robert Simonds, it stars Chris Kattan.
"Bob Simonds is probably one of those producers who has more films that get into profit than anybody else," Buena Vista Distribution president Chuck Viane said Sunday morning. "He makes them for a price. He makes them for an audience obviously. And he did very well because what I'm seeing in the CinemaScore is that he got an A from the teens under 21 for males and an A- for females and everything else was a B, which I think just goes to show you how much people are dying for comedy out there right now."
Given the film's low production cost, Viane laughed, "It'll take me about another week to turn this picture into a profit (position). With the studios having tough times like everybody else, it's nice to know you can walk one into a profit real quick and follow up with Monsters, Inc. and do the same thing."
Miramax's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Serendipity fell two pegs to fourth place in its second week with a still attractive ESTIMATED $9.0 million (-32 percent) at 2,603 theaters (+2 theaters; $3,458 per theater). Its cume is approximately $26.6 million.
Directed by Peter Chelsom, it stars John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
"It was a great hold for us and we're real happy," Miramax senior vice president, marketing David Kaminow, said Sunday morning. "It does seem to be the right movie for now. It's really the only romantic comedy that's still out there. We'll face a little competition this weekend from Riding In Cars With Boys, but there's room for both of us."
20th Century Fox's release of Regency Enterprises and Village Roadshow Pictures' R rated thriller Don't Say a Word fell two rungs to fifth in its third week with an okay ESTIMATED $6.78 million (-31 percent) at 2,728 theaters (-114 theaters; $2,485 per theater). Its cume is approximately $41.8 million, heading for a domestic theatrical gross in the mid-$60 millions.
Directed by Gary Fleder and produced by Arnon Milchan, Arnold Kopelson and Anne Kopelson, Word stars Michael Douglas.
"The 31 percent drop bodes well," Fox distribution president Bruce Snyder said Sunday morning. "It had the best bump from Friday to Saturday. I think Don't Say A Word's kind of gotten its own place in the market right now. (It was) up 60 percent from Friday to Saturday. Nothing's near that except for (Disney's kid appeal) Max Keeble in terms of percentage pop. So I think Don't Say A Word has found a groove even with Training Day and Bandits opening. I think it's going to be around."