`BIG DADDY' SENDS THOSE OTHER MOVIES TO THEIR ROOMS; `TARZAN' STILL SWINGIN' AT NO. 2.Byline: Dave McNary Staff Writer A robust ``Big Daddy'' ruled over a record-setting slate at the nation's multiplexes with an estimated $41.2 million at 3,027 theaters during the Friday-Sunday period, studio sources said Sunday Sunday: see Sabbath; week. . Sony's Adam Sandler comedy took in nearly double the nearest contender, the second weekend of ``Tarzan'' with a still-impressive $23.5 million at 3,049 theaters, and posted the 14th best opening of all time. ``Big Daddy'' performed at the high end of expectations, eclipsing the $39.4 million debut of Sandler's ``The Waterboy'' last November. ``Adam Sandler's star is definitely on the rise,'' said Robert Bucksbaum, president of the Reel Source forecasting service. ``About 75 percent of the people who saw `Big Daddy' went because of him.'' Bucksbaum said ``Big Daddy'' could eventually top the $161.5 million domestic total for ``The Waterboy,'' currently the 54th highest ever. It will be hugely profitable for Sony, with a bargain-basement budget reportedly under $35 million. The film, with Sandler's slacker character adopting a 5-year-old boy to impress his girlfriend, drew well in all regions and generated strong crossover Crossover The point on a stock chart when a security and an indicator intersect. Crossovers are used by technical analysts to aid in forecasting the future movements in the price of a stock. In most technical analysis models, a crossover is a signal to either buy or sell. business from audiences beyond the core of young males, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Sony spokesman Ed Russell. ``We think we may get a lot of business from date crowds,'' he added. ``Tarzan'' continued to post solid numbers as attendance fell only 31 percent from its opening weekend, giving Disney's 37th animated feature $77 million overall. Distribution chief Chuck Viane said, ``We think `Tarzan' has tremendous legs to perform this well against `Big Daddy.''' Business at movie theaters continued to sizzle siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. as a trio of holdovers - ``Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged shag 1 n. 1. A tangle or mass, especially of rough matted hair. 2. a. A coarse long nap, as on a woolen cloth. b. Cloth having such a nap. 3. A rug with a thick rough pile. Me,'' ``The General's Daughter,'' ``Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace'' - also performed powerfully with each grossing over $14 million. Overall ticket sales totaled $131 million, edging the $130.1 million record for a non-holiday weekend set last weekend. ``Business continues to be phenomenal,'' said industry tracker Arthur Rockwell. By and large, the pictures have delivered to their respective audiences so far this summer.'' New Line's ``The Spy Who Shagged Me'' took the biggest hit from ``Big Daddy'' with a 41 percent decline from its second weekend as the sequel came in third with a highly respectable $18.5 million at 3,049 theaters. ``The Spy Who Shagged Me,'' which has run ads spoofing (1) Faking the sending address of a transmission in order to gain illegal entry into a secure system. See e-mail spoofing. (2) Creating fake responses or signals in order to keep a session active and prevent timeouts. ``Phantom Menace'' and ``Big Daddy,'' joined Sunday the elite club of 62 other movies that have topped $150 million and appears certain to become the 27th to pass $200 million by the end of its run. Paramount's second weekend of ``The General's Daughter'' held up well with a 30 percent decline to $15.6 million at 2,858 theaters. Even more impressive was 20th Century Fox's sixth weekend of ``Phantom Menace'' with $14.6 million at 3,126 sites, representing a decline of only 23 percent from its previous weekend, as the George Lucas Noun 1. George Lucas - United States screenwriter and filmmaker (born in 1944) Lucas saga hit $352.4 million in its 40th day. That represented another record for ``Phantom Menace'' as it became the fastest to cross $350 million, breaking ``Titanic's'' mark by 18 days. ``It's a phenomenal performance and there's no doubt it will get to $400 million,'' Bucksbaum said. The only films still in front are ``Titanic'' at $600.8 million, ``Star Wars'' at $460.9 million, ``E.T. The Extraterrestrial'' at $399.8 million and ``Jurassic Park'' at $356.8 million. As for the rest of the pack, Universal's ``Notting Hill'' continued to post respectable numbers in sixth with $5.1 million at 2,559 theaters, followed by the studio's eighth weekend of ``The Mummy'' with $2.1 million at 1,826 sites to hit $146 million overall and Disney's fourth weekend of ``Instinct'' with $1.9 million at 1,826 screens. Miramax's expanded run of romantic comedy ``An Ideal Husband,'' with Cate Blanchett Catherine Élise Blanchett (born May 14, 1969), better known as Cate Blanchett, is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning Australian actress. She has also won various awards, most notably including two SAGs and two BAFTAs, making her one of a few actors who won all and Minnie Driver, generated strong art-house business in ninth with $1.2 million at 122 theaters, followed by Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) .' 13th weekend of ``The Matrix'' with $1 million at 1,139 sites to go past $165 million overall. With the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. holiday on customers' minds this week, studios will open two major entries Wednesday - Warner's ``Wild Wild West'' with Will Smith and Paramount's ``South Park.'' Bucksbaum said ``Wild Wild West'' should lead the box office next weekend, one of the year's heaviest moviegoing periods. He also noted that studios plan to pick up the pace of new releases during July and August after opening fewer than usual during May and June to avoid competition with ``Phantom Menace MENACE. A threat; a declaration of an intention to cause evil to happen to another. 2. When menaces to do an injury to another have been made, the party making them may, in general, be held to bail to keep the peace; and, when followed by any inconvenience or .'' ``It's going to get very crowded fast,'' Bucksbaum added. Final totals for the Friday-Sunday period will be released today. TOP MOVIES Estimated grosses for Friday through Sunday at North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. theaters: 1. ``Big Daddy,'' $41.2 million. 2. ``Tarzan,'' $23.5 million. 3. ``Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,'' $18.5 million. 4. ``The General's Daughter,'' $15.6 million. 5. ``Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace,'' $14.6 million. 6. ``Notting Hill,'' $5.1 million. 7. ``The Mummy mummy, dead human or animal body preserved by embalming or by unusual natural conditions. As a rule mummies are from ancient times. The word is of Arabic derivation and refers primarily to the burials found in Egypt, where the practice of mummification was perfected ,'' $2.1 million. 8. ``Instinct instinct, term used generally to indicate an innate tendency to action, or pattern of behavior, elicited by specific stimuli and fulfilling vital needs of an organism. ,'' $1.9 million. 9. ``An Ideal Husband,'' $1.1 million. 10. ``The Matrix,'' $1 million. CAPTION(S): box Box: Top movies (see text) |
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