To no one’s big surprise, Buena Vista/Disney scored big this weekend with their football drama, Remember The Titans. Taking first place with an impressive ESTIMATED $21.2 million at 1,865 theaters ($11,383 per theater), it’s a touchdown for producer, Jerry Bruckheimer and star Denzel Washington.
Titans had the highest per-theater average for any film playing in wide release last weekend and finally marks the first $20 million-plus opener since Columbia’s Hollow Man last August 4th. It also stands as Denzel Washington‘s biggest opening since his $18.6 million release with Crimson Tide in May 1995.
Warner Bros.’ reissue of its R-rated 1973 horror classic “The Exorcist“, directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair and Max von Sydow, expanded in its second week, strongly holding on to second place with an ESTIMATED $7.43 million (-9%) at 1,150 theaters (+486 theaters; $6,457 per theater). Its accumulative so far is approximately $17.9 million.
DreamWorks’ R-rated dramatic comedy “Almost Famous“, directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup and Frances McDormand, continued to expand in its third week, holding on to third place with a solid ESTIMATED $5.6 million (-20%) at 1,635 theaters (+442 theaters; $3,402 per theater). Its accumulative is approximately $17.8 million, heading for about $60 million in domestic theaters.
Columbia’s R-rated horror sequel “Urban Legends: Final Cut“, directed by John Ottman and starring Jennifer Morrison, from Phoenix Pictures fell three pegs to fourth place in its second week with a less lively ESTIMATED $4.7 million (-45%) at 2,539 theaters (theater count unchanged; $1,851 per theater). Its accumulative is approximately $15.0 million.
However, even though Remember The Titans did well and gave the box office a much needed kick in the pants, overall, the marketplace is down over 27% from last year and the films being released are under-performing. But look out for the studios to release their big Oscar guns.
