Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arrives at Bag End |
HOLLYWOOD - New Line's Lord's prayers were answered as Lord of the Rings showed strong post-Christmas legs, placing first with $37.4 million and a cume of $154.5 million.With the trilogy of Rings films representing a $300 million-plus make-it-or-break-it investment for New Line, the first film's spectacular success is clearly the best possible news for the company. Besides its box office strength, Rings also turned up on many critics' Top Ten Lists. Its four Golden Globe nominations (best picture/drama, director, original score and original song) put it on a likely track for key Oscar nominations.
Hollywood also got some help in ending the year with a bang from Ocean's Eleven in second place again with a high rolling $17.6 million. Ali opened in third place to a heavyweight $15.3 million. Jimmy Neutron finished fourth with a lively $15 million. Vanilla Sky placed fifth by the skin of its teeth, edging out Harry Potter by only about $45,000 with an unexciting $11.5 million.
The crowded holiday marketplace was also driven by very strong expansions for A Beautiful Mind and The Royal Tenenbaums and by promising platform launches for Gosford Park, Black Hawk Down and I Am Sam.
Key films--those grossing at least $500,000--took in a cork popping $164 million, up nearly 21 percent from about $136 million this time last year.
THE TOP TEN
New Line Cinema's PG-13 rated epic The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring held on to the number one spot in its second week with a golden ESTIMATED $37.35 million (-21%) at 3,359 theaters ($11,119 per theater). Its cume is approximately $154.5 million.
Lord's average per theater was the highest for any film playing in over 1,000 theaters this weekend.
Directed by Peter Jackson, its extensive ensemble cast is led by Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen.
"We're thrilled with these numbers and we've been thrilled since it's opened," New Line distribution president David Tuckerman said Sunday morning. "We feel the picture's going to have not just good legs but great legs. I wouldn't think that $300 million is beyond our reach."
Warner Bros. PG-13 rated casino heist dramatic comedy Ocean's Eleven held on to second place in its third week with a still sizzling ESTIMATED $17.63 million (+20%) at 3,075 theaters (theater count unchanged; $5,733 per theater). Its cume is approximately $128.2 million, heading for $200 million in domestic theaters.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean's extensive cast includes George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.