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BOX OFFICE: 'Gladiator' Kills
SANTA MONICA - Sweat, blood, more sweat, more blood, more sweat, more blood. Yes, somebody knows the way to American moviegoers' hearts.
The sweaty, bloody "Gladiator" killed at the weekend box office, pulling in $32.7 million per studio estimates released today. According to box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, the Russell Crowe actioner pulled in $11.7 mil on Friday alone, another $14.2 mil on Saturday -- and never, ever looked back.
Reigning box office champ "U-571" was sunk, dropping to No. 2 with an estimated $7.6 million -- or a mere $25 mil less than "Gladiator."
The rest of the Top Five, according to estimates from Exhibitor Relations, was filled out by fading two-week-old flicks: "Frequency" (No. 3 with $6.5 mil), "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" (No. 4 with $6.3 mil) and "Where the Heart Is" (No. 5 with $5 mil).
Elsewhere, the new Kim Basinger drama "I Dreamed of Africa" debuted with a paltry (and estimated) $2.5 million, bad for eighth place.
Here's a complete rundown of the weekend Top 10, according to Exhibitor Relations estimates:
1. "Gladiator," $32.7 million 2. "U-571," $7.6 million 3. "Frequency," $6.5 million 4. "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas," $6.3 million 5. "Where the Heart Is," $5 million 6. "Love and Basketball," $3.4 million 7. "Keeping the Faith," $2.8 million 8. "I Dreamed of Africa," $2.5 million 9. "Rules of Engagement," $2.4 million 10. "28 Days," $2.35 million