Insiders said that the tracking had suggested Castle would open to better ticket sales than it did. "We were hoping to do $10 million based on the tracking," Tharp said. "I think the tracking fluctuates from day to day. I think there's a lot of uncertainty. That's just an opinion."
Tharp explained that people seem uncertain about what they're going to do in terms of weekend moviegoing when they're asked ahead about their plans. "You certainly get that [impression] by looking at the tracking and what they eventually do. [By the time the weekend gets here] there's some other news flash. The adult area seems to be more impacted than the under-25 area."
Asked who was on hand to see Castle, Tharp replied, "More than 70 percent were 25 and over: 53 percent male, 47 percent female. The movie received above average ratings and recommend scores."
Miramax's PG-13 rated romantic comedy Serendipity fell two pegs to sixth place in its third week with an okay ESTIMATED $5.8 million (-34%) at 2,610 theaters (+7 theaters; $2,222 per theater). Its cume is approximately $34.8 million.
Directed by Peter Chelsom, it stars John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
Buena Vista/Touchstone's PG-13 rated comedy Corky Romano slipped four notches to seventh place in its second week with a slow ESTIMATED $5.3 million (-41%) at 2,094 theaters (+32 theaters; $2,509 per theater). Made for only about $11 million, its cume is approximately $16.1 million.
Directed by Rob Prits and produced by Robert Simonds, it stars Chris Kattan.
20th Century Fox's release of Regency Enterprises and Village Roadshow Pictures' R rated thriller Don't Say A Word fell three rungs to eighth place in its fourth week with a quiet ESTIMATED $4.4 million (-30%) at 2,260 theaters (-469 theaters; $1,946 per theater). Its cume is approximately $48.1 million, heading for a domestic theatrical gross of $65 million.
Directed by Gary Fleder and produced by Arnon Milchan, Arnold Kopelson and Anne Kopelson, Word stars Michael Douglas.