The power and mystique of the Blair Witch have weakened. In what is a surprise to many experts, “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2,” the sequel to the enormously successful indie “The Blair Witch Project,” failed to bewitch enough moviegoers to dethrone “Meet the Parents.”
“Parents,” the hit comedy starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, took in an estimated $15.06 million in its fourth week, according to estimates by Exhibitor Relations. The film has been No. 1 for the past month and this weekend attains the $100 million mark.
“Blair Witch 2,” while opening in some 3,300 theaters, the fourth-largest opening ever, scared up a disappointing $13.10 million to land in second place. The 1999 original made $140 million domestically.
Jumping up one spot from last week was the Denzel Washington high school feel-good flick “Remember the Titans,” with $8 million. Its total stands at $87.7 million as it rushes to the $100 million mark.
Rounding out the Top Five were the Elizabeth Hurley and Brendan Fraser comedy “Bedazzled,” down two notches with $7.7 million, and “Pay It Forward,” the drama starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. “Pay It Forward” took in $6.88 million in its second week out.
There were two other debuts in the Top 10 this weekend: At No. 7 was the John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow comedy “Lucky Numbers” with a disappointing $4.6 million, while in a surprise, the Jonathan Lipnicki starrer “The Little Vampire” finished one rung above “Lucky Numbers” with $5.5 million.
Here are the weekend’s Top 10 films, according to estimates by Exhibitor Relations (final figures will be released Monday):
1. “Meet the Parents,” $15.06 million ($100 million total)
2. “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2,” $13.10 million (opening weekend)
3. “Remember the Titans,” $8 million ($87.7 million total)
4. “Bedazzled,” $7.7 million ($24 million total)
5. “Pay It Forward,” $6.88 million ($19.1 million)
6. “The Little Vampire,” $5.5 million (opening weekend)
7. “Lucky Numbers,” $4.6 million (opening weekend)
8. “The Contender,” $2.48 million ($14 million total)
9. “The Legend of Drunken Master,” $2.3 million ($7.3 million total)
10. “Best In Show,” $1.78 million ($9.2 million total)
