HOLLYWOOD - After two weeks of dismal results, the box office roared back to life last weekend with total ticket sales of $64.1 million for the top 12 films, up 47 percent from the previous weekend and 22 percent from the same weekend a year ago. Don't Say a Word, starring Michael Douglas, surprised many analysts by opening in the top spot with $17.1 million. Many analysts had predicted that audiences would not be ready yet for such an edgy thriller. Ben Stiller's comedy Zoolander, which had been the favorite to win the box-office race, placed second instead with $15.5 million.
A third new film, Hearts in Atlantis, starring Anthony Hopkins, debuted in the third spot with $9 million.
There was more bad news for Mariah Carey. Glitter, her first feature, took in less than $1 million, averaging just $772 per screen.
The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date):
1. Don't Say A Word, 20th Century Fox, $17,090,474, (New); 2. Zoolander, Paramount, $15,525,043, (New); 3. Hearts in Atlantis, Warner Bros., $9,021,494, (New); 4. Hardball, Paramount, $5,156,888, 3 Wks. ($26,263,390); 5. The Others, Miramax/Dimension, $47,85,217, 8 Wks. ($86,694,507); 6. Rush Hour 2, New Line, $2,484,904, 9 Wks. ($219,192,504); 7. The Glass House, Sony, $2,106,341, 3 Wks. ($15,035,267); 8. The Musketeer, Universal, $1,737,540, 4 Wks. ($25,534,375); 9. Rat Race, Paramount, $1,702,628, 7 Wks. ($54,088,903); 10. Two Can Play That Game, Sony, $1,628,848, 4 Wks. ($2,0647,372).