Paramount's PG-13 rated youth appeal Britney Spears comedy Crossroads kicked off in second place to a high energy ESTIMATED $17.0 million at 2,380 theaters ($7,143 per theater). (Its estimated gross for three days was $14.6 million.)
Directed by Tamra Davis, it stars Britney Spears.
"We're happy with it," Paramount Distribution president Wayne Lewellen said Sunday morning. "Going in, I was looking for maybe $12 million or so for the three days and we're close to $15 million for three. It's playing across the board (in) large markets and small markets. The top grosses are out of the L.A. market, but then you've got some of the (other big) grosses coming out of places like Jacksonville, Chicago, San Francisco and even Canada's doing well with the picture.
"The demo is primarily young females--about 84 percent young females and 67 percent of those are under 15. It's very young and female. We knew that's who it was. And they give it an excellent response, of course."
Buena Vista/Disney's opening of its G rated animated Return to Never Land placed third with an enchanting ESTIMATED $15.55 million at 2,605 theaters ($5,970 per theater). (Its estimated gross for three days was $11.8 million.)
Universal's PG rated family comedy Big Fat Liar dropped one notch to fourth place in its second week with a still happy ESTIMATED $11.87 million (-3%) at 2,534 theaters (+3 theaters; $4,685 per theater). Its cume is approximately $25.4 million, heading for $40-50 million in domestic theaters. (Its estimated gross for three days was $8.7 million.)
Directed by Shawn Levy, it stars Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti and Amanda Bynes.
Liar, which was made for only about $15 million, should be very profitable for Universal.
"For this little niche family film to do this kind of business and be the number four film in the marketplace is absolutely incredible," Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said Sunday morning. "We're just thrilled. There are other choices for (families to see). Return to Never Land is obviously younger kids. Crossroads is getting a young audience even though its PG-13. And Snow Dogs (is also playing to families). There's a lot for the family audience to choose from this weekend and Big Fat Liar was a major choice for them."
Warner Bros. and Bel-Air Entertainment's R rated terrorist action adventure Collateral Damage slipped four pegs to fifth place in its second week with a less damaging ESTIMATED $10.55 million (-34%) at 2,824 theaters (theater count unchanged; $3,736 per theater). Its cume is approximately $30.0 million. (Its estimated gross for three days was $9.05 million.)
Directed by Andrew Davis, it stars Arnold Schwarzenegger.
MGM's R rated World War II drama Hart's War opened in sixth place to a quiet ESTIMATED $10.00 million at 2,459 theaters ($4,067 per theater). (Its estimated gross for three days was $8.27 million.)
Directed by Gregory Hoblit, it stars Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell.