Moreover, they flooded back into theaters in surprising numbers, boosting ticket sales by 52 percent over the previous weekend and 26 percent over the same weekend a year ago. Commenting on the estimated $66.2 million take for the top 12 movies, 20th Century Fox's distribution chief, Bruce Snyder, told today's Wall Street Journal, "I think the country is trying to get back to normalcy of some sort."

And entertainment analyst Art Rockwell told Bloomberg News: "The box office hasn't been negatively affected by terrorism. ... People found great relief in going to a movie."

Don't Say a Word

took in an estimated $18 million for an average of $6,422 per theater. Several critics on Friday had voiced skepticism that, given the current national mood, audiences would be attracted to intense thrillers, particularly one set in New York that includes a fleeting glimpse of the World Trade Center. (The film also received a number of scathing reviews.)

Zoolander, analysts' clear favorite to win the weekend race, finished second with $15.7 million for a per-screen average of $6,262.

Hearts in Atlantis, starring Anthony Hopkins was in third place with about 9.5 million, for a per-screen average of $5,445.

The Keanu Reeves Little League film Hardball dropped to fourth place with $5.2 million, after spending two weeks in first place.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations:
1. Don't Say a Word, $18 million; 2. Zoolander, $15.7 million; 3. Hearts in Atlantis, $9.5 million; 4. Hardball, $5.2 million; 5. The Others, $5.1 million; 6. Rush Hour 2, $2.7 million; 7. The Glass House, $2.1 million; 8. Rat Race, $1.8 million; 9. The Musketeer, $1.7 million; 10. Two Can Play that Game, $1.6 million.