HOLLYWOOD - Americans volunteered to buy over $24 million in basic Training tickets at this weekend's box office.
Driven by powerful openings for Warner Bros.' Training Day and Miramax's Serendipity, ticket sales for key films rose nearly 32 percent over the previous weekend and about 15 percent over the prior year. Insiders called it another clear indication that moviegoing is once again a routine part of American life.
The weekend also benefited from Monday, Oct. 8 being Columbus Day in the U.S. and Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Holiday Mondays typically generate stronger Sunday night ticket sales.
Also helping to propel this weekend's box office were strong sneak previews Saturday night for MGM and Hyde Park Entertainment's comedy Bandits (for details see SNEAK PREVIEWS below).
With the breaking news Sunday morning at about 10 o'clock Pacific time of America's military action in Afghanistan in response to Sept. 11's terrorist bombings in the U.S., it is possible that anticipated Sunday ticket sales may be hurt by non-stop television crisis news coverage. If so, Monday's final numbers will be somewhat less than today's early morning estimates. But with Friday and Saturday ticket sales having already exhibited great strength, Hollywood should look good even if Sunday's numbers are less than projected.
THE TOP TEN
Warner Bros. launched its R rated police corruption drama Training Day to an explosive ESTIMATED $24.18 million at 2,712 theaters ($8,914 per theater).
Training's average per theater was the highest for any film this weekend.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the Warner Bros. presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures and NPV Entertainment stars Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke.
"This is the largest opening weekend in Denzel Washington's distinguished career," Warner Bros. Distribution president Dan Fellman said Sunday morning. "His previous