SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 9, 2000 -- Hollywood got through the first weekend of the new year in slightly better shape than studio insiders expected. It took just $11.5 million to put Columbia's "Stuart Little" in first place, making it the weekend's only Top Five film to crack double digits. Lackluster tracking scores last week had suggested that the new year might kick off with none of the Top Five films doing better than single-digit grosses. Columbia's PG-rated family comedy held on to the top spot in its fourth week, still laughing with an estimated $11.5 million (-28%) at 2,979 theaters (+79 theaters, $3,806 per theater). Its total is approximately $95.6 million. Directed by Rob Minkoff, "Stuart Little" stars Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie and Jonathan Lipnicki. "It'll hit $100 million either Friday or Saturday of next week," Sony Pictures Releasing President Je
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 2, 2000 -- "Stuart Little" may squeak softly, but he carried a big cheese stick at the box office during New Year's weekend. Columbia Pictures' animated talking mouse movie returned to the No. 1 spot, surging ahead of Al Pacino and Matt Damon and claiming a place in the cinema record book. With total receipts topping $7 billion for the first time ever, 1999 was a record-setting year at the U.S. box office. "Stuart Little" closed out the year with another historical footnote by grossing an estimated $52 million during the final week of the century, the most ever for a family-oriented film during the Christmas-to-New-Year period, according to studio officials. The film, which bowed at No. 1 two weeks ago, then slipped to third place over the Christmas weekend, entered Y2K by rebounding with an estimated $16 million in its third weekend.
'Twas the weekend before Christmas, and all through the movie house, all the kids were eager, to see the talking mouse. As usual, movie attendance was soft during the final holiday shopping weekend of the year. The box office was dominated by two rodents: one of them the little talking mouse who stars in Columbia Pictures' G-rated "Stuart Little," the other, the ubiquitous Disney mouse, which had three films in the weekend's top five. In its opening weekend, "Stuart Little," an adaptation of the popular, half-century-old book by E.B. White featuring the voice of Michael J. Fox as the titular creature, grossed an estimated $15.4 million in 2,878 theaters, and it had the highest per-theater average of any movie in wide release at $5,351. Although a $15 million gross won't set any records, studio officials are pleased that the film opened strong during the pre-Christmas wee
Hollywood opens its presents early this weekend with the arrival of a few deluxe-wrapped packages full of good holiday cheer. "Anna and the King," a richly decorated version of the classic musical "The King and I" sans the music, should pique the interests of romantic moviegoers young and old. It stars Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and Hong Kong action icon Chow Yun-Fat. Gifts for the kids come in the form of the studio movies "Stuart Little" and "Bicentennial Man." Based on a beloved children's novel, "Stuart Little" tells the live-action adventures of a pet mouse, with a voice provided by Michael J. Fox. In "Bicentennial Man," Robin Williams undergoes a different kind of transformation, playing an android who learns what it means to be human. "Mrs. Doubtfire" director Chris Columbus helms the film. Other high-profile holiday films opening in limited release
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 29, 2000 -- Geena Davis has committed to another pet project, signing on for Columbia Pictures' next mousecapade, "Stuart Little 2."Daily Variety says the sequel is planned for a Christmas 2001 release. "Stuart Little," a surprise hit and a big cheese at the holiday box office, has pulled in more than $136 million. Stuart Little There's no word yet on the status of original "Little" director Rob Minkoff or co-stars Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki and "Stuart's" voice, Michael J. Fox. "Ghost" writer Bruce Joel Rubin will script the story. Greg Brooker and "Sixth Sense" director M. Night Shyamalan wrote the original screenplay.Although the Christmas 2001 date might seem wishful given the picture's mix of live action and animatronics, insiders report that the crew doesn't have to scamper because much of the needed critter technolog