Friday, 14 November 1997

WEEKEND PREVIEW

This weekend is the hardest I've had to predict in quite a long time. Why? Big stars, low want-to-see. The Jackal features Bruce Willis and Richard Gere, but there's less buzz around than in a decaf latte. Disney hasn't had big results from its re-releases since they became so video friendly, but The Little Mermaid may be special. Or not. And Bill Murray is far from a guaranteed opener in a film that isn't as easily defined as his last hit, Groundhog Day.

So here's my take. Starship Troopers drops just 20 percent to $17.6 million, taking first for a second week. The Jackal opens with a nice, but not overwhelming $14 million for second. The Little Mermaid surfs to a third place finish with about $12 million. Bean flatulates to the tune of $9.6 million, dropping 25 percent for fourth. Bill Murray's The Man Who Knew Too Little will stay undercover with a soft $8.5 million for fifth.

The Second Five should all be repeat visitors, with New Line's One Night Stand opening at only 700 screens. I Know What You Did Last Summer slices another $4.2 million -- a 35 percent drop -- for sixth. Also dropping about 35 percent should be The Devil's Advocate ($3.3 million for seventh) and Red Corner ($3.2 million in eighth). Mad City should make its second and last Top Ten appearance in ninth with a 25 percent drop to $3.5 million. And Hot Button fave Boogie Nights should dance into 10th with a 20 percent drop to $3.1 million. Trailing closely should be surprise hit Eve's Bayou with about $2.6 million.

And make sure to go to the movies this weekend, because the holiday onslaught will start burying you next week with Clint Eastwood's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Anastasia, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and Francis Ford Coppola's Grisham entry, The Rainmaker. And your Thanksgiving plans will probably include Flubber or Alien Resurrection or both.

Don't think I've pegged this weekend's results? Let's see your Top Ten. If you beat me you will ... "Win David Poland's Money!" Well, no, but I might tell our readers about it.