`ADAMS' FILLS WINNING PRESCRIPTION.Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer The opening of Robin Williams' medical comedy ``Patch Adams'' generated healthy returns over the Christmas holidays in the final weekend of a record-setting year for Hollywood. The comedy brought in an estimated $25.5 million at 2,714 theaters during the Friday-Sunday period, continuing 1998's ongoing strong performances from a wide variety of genres that have generated close to $7 billion in domestic ticket sales. ``Patch Adams,'' featuring Williams as a doctor using humor to heal, represents the first hit for Universal Studios since ``The Lost World: Jurassic Park'' opened in May 1997. ``This certainly gives Universal a strong ending to a sour year,'' said Robert Bucksbaum, president of the Reel Source forecasting service, who predicted the film will eventually gross $160 million. Analyst Arthur Rockwell agreed that ``Patch Adams'' had performed admirably, noting that six other films had taken in at least $10 million over the weekend. ``It's a solid opening, particularly considering all the competition,'' he said. Sony's ``Stepmom,'' a drama with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon Susan Sarandon (born October 4, 1946) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. Biography Early life Sarandon, the eldest of nine children, was born Susan Abigail Tomalin , finished a strong second with $19.4 million at 2,358 theaters and will probably reach $100 million by the end of its run. Studio spokesman Ed Russell said ``Stepmom'' beat internal estimates and drew well from audience segments outside its core of adult women. A pair of held-over films performed well in their second weekends, with Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) .' ``You've Got Mail'' finishing third with $18.2 million at 2,759 screens, dropping just 1 percent from last weekend, and Dreamworks' ``The Prince of Egypt'' with $15.4 million at 3,218 screens, representing a 5 percent gain. Bucksbaum said both had rebounded well after their results were held down during the opening weekend by the distractions of President Clinton's impeachment impeachment, formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct. In a looser sense the term is sometimes applied also to the trial by the legislature that may follow. and the bombing of Iraq There have been several bombings of Iraq:
Miramax's opening of ``The Faculty'' finished fifth with a respectable $11.3 million at 2,365 screens as the battle between high school students and teachers possessed by evil forces drew well from teen-age moviegoers. A pair of well-received dramas performed well in their qualifying runs for Academy Award consideration - 20th Century Fox's ``The Thin Red Line'' with $275,000 at five theaters and Disney's ``A Civil Action'' with $67,000 at two theaters. Final results for the weekend will be announced today. TOP TEN MOVIES Here are estimated grosses at North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. theaters for Friday through Sunday. 1. ``Patch Adams,'' $25.5 million. 2. ``Stepmom,'' $19.4 million. 3. ``You've Got Mail The audio announcement heard millions of times per day by AOL users. The voice was recorded by Elwood "El" Edwards in 1989 at the suggestion of his wife Karen, who worked in customer service for Quantum Computer Services (before Quantum became AOL). ,'' $18.2 million. 4. ``The Prince of Egypt,'' $15.4 million. 5. ``The Faculty,'' $11.3 million. 6. ``Mighty Joe Young,'' $10.5 million. 7. ``A Bug's Life,'' $10 million. 8. ``Star Trek  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. : Insurrection A rising or rebellion of citizens against their government, usually manifested by acts of violence.Under federal law, it is a crime to incite, assist, or engage in such conduct against the United States. INSURRECTION. ,'' $7.5 million. 9. ``Enemy of the State,'' $5.2 million. 10. ``Jack Frost Jack Frost personification of winter. [Pop. Culture: Misc.] See : Winter ,'' $3.9 million. CAPTION(S): Box Box: TOP TEN MOVIES (See text) |
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