SUMMER TOP TEN FILMS

Based on ESTIMATED cumes through Labor Day weekend, the summer's top 10 films are:

(1) Shrek (DreamWorks)- $262.9 million.

(2) The Mummy Returns (Universal) - $201.7 million.

(3) Rush Hour 2 (New Line) - $198.8 million (but heading for $210-215 million).

(4) Pearl Harbor (BV/Touchstone) - $196.5 million.

(5) Jurassic Park III (Universal) - $175.7 million.

(6) Planet of the Apes (Fox) - $172.7 million.

(7) The Fast and the Furious (Universal) - $142.0

million.

(8) Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Paramount) - $130.5

million.

(9) American Pie 2 (Universal) - $125.3 million (but

heading for 140 million).

(10)Dr. Dolittle 2 (Fox) - $111.4 million.

LABOR DAY GROSSES

Looking back at the last six years' Labor Day weekend grosses for key films -- those doing $500,000 or more for the four days -- shows a pattern of growth consistent with the steady expansion of the marketplace. It also confirms the fact that Labor Day really isn't one of Hollywood's prime holiday weekends.

Coming, as it does, at the end of summer Labor Day Weekend is a holiday when people across the country are eager to enjoy a last taste of summer. They really don't want to spend time indoors seeing movies unless their outdoor plans are ruined by rain. In view of that, Hollywood has made a point of not taking the risk of opening major high profile films for Labor Day. That, in turn, has helped to perpetuate the holiday's box office weakness.

In 1995 Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1-4) saw key films gross $75.53 million. New Line's Mortal Kombat topped the chart with $8.3 million at 2,630 theaters ($3,151 per theater).

In 1996 Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30 - Sept. 2) saw key films gross $85.60 million. Miramax's opening of The Crow: City of Angels was No. 1 with $9.8 million at 2,423 theaters ($4,038 per theater). (Crow's launch was the best ever for a Labor Day weekend until this year's ESTIMATED $16.13 million for Jeepers Creepers.)

In 1997 Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29 - Sept. 1) saw key films gross $90.35 million. Buena Vista's G.I. Jane came in first with $10.3 million at 1,973 theaters ($5,211 per theater).

In 1998 Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4-7) saw the gross for key films fall to $81.89 million. 20th Century Fox's There's Something About Mary was number one with $10.9 million at 2,545 theaters ($4,291 per theater).

In 1999 Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-6) saw the key films gross soar 34.3 percent to $109.98 million. (This was the best showing for key films over Labor Day until this year's ESTIMATED total of $110.28 million.) Buena Vista's The Sixth Sense placed first with $29.3 million at 2,775 theaters ($10,548 per theater), the best showing to date for a Labor Day weekend.

In 2000 Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1-4) saw the gross for key films slide 9.4 percent to $99.66 million. Universal's Bring It On was the grossing film with $14.2 million at 2,410 theaters ($5,880 per theater).