``The Rugrats Movie'' Tops $27.3 Million At the Box Office.

HOLLYWOOD--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 23, 1998--"The Rugrats Movie," a Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies presentation of a Klasky/Csupo Production, grossed $27,321,470 at the box office this weekend (Nov. 20-22), it was announced by Wayne Lewellen, president of distribution for Paramount Pictures' Motion Picture Group.

Opening on Friday, Nov. 20, in 2,782 theaters across the United States and Canada, "The Rugrats Movie" grossed $6,819,958 on Friday (11/20); $12,034,471 on Saturday (11/21); and $8,467,041 on Sunday (11/22) for a per theater average of $9,820.

"We are extremely delighted by the success of 'The Rugrats Movie,'" Lewellen said. "The Rugrats series on Nickelodeon has a phenomenal following among young kids and families, and that popularity clearly can be seen in our box office results this past weekend. To do this level at the box office means that this film has expanded well beyond children."

Theaters recording outstanding results this past weekend included: the GCC Bay Plaza in the Bronx, N.Y., with $68,905; the AMC Ontario Mills in Ontario, Calif., with $68,173; the National Amusements Concourse in the Bronx, with $66,271; the Century Plaza in San Francisco, with $57,654; the Star Southfield in Detroit, with $55,159; the Showcase Revere in Boston, with $50,559; the Tinseltown in El Paso, Texas, with $49,749; the Pacific Winnetka in Chatsworth, Calif., with $49,217; the Loews New Brunswick in Raritan Heights, N.J., with $47,323; and the UA Riverview in Philadelphia, with $40,687.

"The Rugrats Movie" is produced by the award-winning animation studio Klasky Csupo Inc. and is a Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies presentation. The film is directed by Norton Virgien and Igor Kovalyov, produced by Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo, and written by David N. Weiss & J. David Stem.

Albie Hecht and Debby Beece serve as executive producers, and Hal Waite, Eryk Casemiro and Julia Pistor serve as co-producers. Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies are both entertainment units of Viacom Inc. MPAA Rating G.