EXPANSIONS

On the expansion front this weekend United Artists' R rated satiric documentary Bowling For Columbine released via MGM went wider in its fifth week with a still solid ESTIMATED $1.35 million (-13%) at 248 theaters (+26 theaters; $5,434 per theater). Its cume is approximately $8.9 million.

Written, produced and directed by Michael Moore, it won the Special Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

"We broke the record this weekend for the highest grossing non-concert documentary of all time," a United Artists spokeswoman said Sunday morning. "The film that previously held that (record) was Hoop Dreams with $7.33 million. We're at six weeks in release and they reached that gross after 37 weeks."

Focus Features' PG-13 rated drama Far From Heaven went wider in its second week with a very encouraging ESTIMATED $0.93 million at 54 theaters (+48 theaters; $17,238 per theater). Its cume is approximately $1.3 million.

Directed by Todd Haynes, it stars Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid and Dennis Haysbert.

"It's Todd Haynes' biggest film ever," Focus distribution president Jack Foley said Sunday morning. "Based on the business in the new markets, and particularly the results in the suburban markets, they were splendid. The suburbs were crazy! Voorhees, New Jersey's going to do about $21,000 for the weekend. These are very rare numbers for any art film like this. It puts it into a very special sphere.

"All in all, the consistency of its performance is breathtaking because it was very successful everywhere it opened. I think we can pretty much be certain that this coming weekend's augmentation into about 250 theaters--we'll in about 70 or 80 markets in total--should be a replica of what happened this weekend. We've got a really wonderful opportunity to play very strongly during the Thanksgiving holiday and, probably, beyond. I'm very excited because this is such a special film."

HBO Films and Newmarket Films' PG-13 rated comedy drama Real Women Have Curves added theaters in its fifth week with a quiet ESTIMATED $0.5 million (+2%) at 154 theaters (+8 theaters; $3,475 per theater). Its cume is approximately $2.7 million.

Directed by Patricia Cardoso, it stars America Ferrera, Lupe Ontiveros and George Lopez.

Artisan Entertainment's R rated comedy Roger Dodger widened in its fourth week with a dull ESTIMATED $0.2 million at 48 theaters (+14 theaters; $4,166 per theater). Its cume is approximately $0.7 million.

Written and directed by Dylan Kidd, it stars Jennifer Beals, Elizabeth Berkley, Jesse Eisenberg, Isabella Rossellini and Campbell Scott.

"We're adding another 12 (runs) next weekend," Artisan distribution head Steve Rothenberg said Sunday morning. "At the end of the day, I think it'll be (a cume of) about $1.5 million."

WEEKEND COMPARISONS

Key films--those grossing more than $500,000--took in approximately $168.43 million for the weekend, up about 7.79 percent from last year when they totaled $156.25 million.

Key films were up about 20.93 percent from the previous weekend this year when they totaled $139.27 million.

Last year, Warner Bros.' opening week of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was first with $90.29 million at 3,672 theaters ($24,590 per theater); and Buena Vista/ Disney's third week of Monsters, Inc. was second with $22.72 million at 3,461 theaters ($6,564 per theater). The top two films one year ago grossed $113.0 million. This year, the top two films grossed an ESTIMATED $109.0 million.