A slew of new releases failed to take off at the box office over the weekend, as American Pie 2 held on to the top position for the third week in a row (only the third release to do so this year, after Hannibaland Spy Kids). The movie earned an estimated $12.8 million, to bring its total to $109.6 million. Rush Hour 2 remained in second place with $11.4 million, bringing its four-week total to $183.2 million. Kevin Smith‘s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back opened in third place with $11.1 million, while the new Freddie Prinze movie, Summer Catch, placed sixth and John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars opened ninth. Two other newcomers failed to make the top-ten list at all. Disney’s Bubble Boy tanked with just $2 million, while Woody Allen‘s The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, which debuted on only 903 screens, earned a so-so $2.5 million.
The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations: 1. American Pie 2, $12.8 million; 2. Rush Hour 2, $11.4 million; 3. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, $11.1 million; 4. The Others, $8.6 million; 5. Rat Race, $8.3 million; 6. Summer Catch, $7.5 million; 7. The Princess Diaries, $6.7 million; 8. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, $3.9 million; 9. John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars, $3.8 million; 10. Planet of the Apes, $3.5 million.
