Monday, 10 November 1997

WEEKEND REVIEW

The weekend shook out pretty much as expected, though I somehow managed to overlook the opening of Mad City across America this week in Friday's preview. But, so did America (only $4.7 million for a very weak sixth place start), so I'm not so embarrassed. On the other hand, I didn't expect the 659-screen opening of Eve's Bayou to make the Top Ten at all, and I was just plain wrong as the drama starring Samuel L. Jackson grabbed $3.3 million with a sweet take of over $5,000 per screen for eighth place.

Starship Troopers was, as expected, da bug bomb, with a $22 million first-place finish, the biggest opening since Air Force One's massive $37 million July 25th opening. I got e-mail from William Barstow who owns theaters in Nebraska and Iowa, and he hears that Starship is just plain bombing in the hinterlands. Could be a bad sign for the long term. (Thanks for the heads up, Bill.) As it turns out, Gramercy Pictures and I both thought Bean would open at $10 million and we were both off by $3 million as Bean slapped a $13 million stick for an impressive second place showing.

IKWYDLS followed my lead and dropped 30 percent to $6.6 million for third. Devil's Advocate and Red Corner tied at $5 million each in fourth and fifth. Boogie Nights dropped only 12 percent to $3.7 million and seventh place. Kiss the Girls fell only 29 percent despite Starship's attack, smooching another $2.5 million for eighth. And tying at tenth with $2.1 million were Seven Years In Tibet (dropping an unholy 36 percent) and Fairy Tale: The Last Gasp (grounded 28 percent).

Anything on your mind? Don't be shy, e-mail me.