Rounding out the Top Ten was New Line Cinema's PG-13 rated blockbuster The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, up two pegs in its 11th week with a still solid ESTIMATED $3.13 million (-10%) at 1,303 theaters (-207 theaters; $2,380 per theater). Its cume is approximately $287.4 million, heading for $300 million in domestic theaters.

Directed by Peter Jackson, Rings' ensemble cast is led by Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen.

"We're going to be in the low $290 millions before we get to Oscar weekend," New Line's David Tuckerman said. "Just hype alone should get us to $300 million. We're going back in the marketplace on Mar. 22 and then on Mar. 29--we've just revised our plan--we're going to add (something special at the conclusion of the film).

"Peter Jackson has made a four minute preview--not a trailer--of (the next film in the Rings trilogy) The Two Towers (opening this December). He basically did it as a thank you to the fans. So we're going to switch out the last reel for Friday, Mar. 29. On Mar. 22 we're going to do a big push to get back into the theaters. I hope to get back to (around) 2,000. So we'll get ourselves through that weekend. If we win, that's great. If we don't win, we have a thank you for the fans on Mar. 29 (that will continue to play) until it leaves theaters."

OTHER OPENINGS

There were no other key openings this weekend.

SNEAK PREVIEWS

There were no national sneak previews this weekend.

EXPANSIONS

On the expansion front this weekend USA Films' R rated whodunit Gosford Park, which has seven Oscar nominations including best picture and won the Writers Guild of America's best original screenplay award Saturday night,, widened in its 10th week with an upbeat ESTIMATED $1.8 million (-10%) at 915 theaters (+94 theater; $1,976 per theater). Its cume is approximately $30.9 million.

Directed by Robert Altman and starring an extensive ensemble cast, it was written by Julian Fellowes and produced by Altman, Bob Balaban and David Levy.

"That's really good," USA Films distribution president Jack Foley said Sunday morning, referring to Gosford Park's ticket sales and Fellowes' WGA award. "We have Julian at ShoWest this week (where he's being honored at the annual convention of exhibitors and distributors as) the screenwriter of the year."

Lions Gate Films' R rated drama Monster's Ball, which has two Oscar nominations, expanded quietly in its 10th week with an ESTIMATED $1.6 million (-22%) at 660 theaters (+106 theaters; $2,485 per theater). Its cume is approximately $13.0 million.

Directed by Marc Foster, it stars Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and Peter Boyle.

Miramax's R rated romantic comedy Italian For Beginners widened in its seventh week to a still hopeful ESTIMATED $0.35 million (+1%) at 66 theaters (+10 theaters; $5,303 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.6 million.

Directed by Lone Scherfig, it stars Anders Berthelsen.

USA Films' R rated romantic comedy Monsoon Wedding added theaters in its second week with a tasty ESTIMATED $0.2 million at 11 theaters (+9 theaters; $18,500 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.3 million.

Directed by Mira Nair, it was produced by Nair and Caroline Baron.

"It's wonderful," USA Films' Jack Foley said. "This is a little movie. We go into the next 12 big markets out there this weekend. It comes to around 30 additional screens."

WEEKEND COMPARISONS

Key films--those grossing more than $500,000--took in approximately $97.69 million, up about 18.14 percent from last year when they totaled $82.69 million.

Key films for this three day weekend were down about 7.33% from the previous weekend of this year's total of $105.42 million.

Last year, DreamWorks' opening week of The Mexican was first with $20.11 million at 2,951 theaters ($6,814 per theater); and MGM's fourth week of Hannibal was second with $10.05 million at 3,272 theaters ($3,072 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $30.2 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $32.7 million.