`IN AND OUT' AT TOP OF BOX OFFICE `GAME'.

Byline: Associated Press 

The gay-themed comedy ``In and Out'' earned $15.3 million to lead the pack of fall films opening nationwide, according to industry estimates Sunday.

The film stars Kevin Kline as a teacher whose life is turned upside down when a former student declares him to be a homosexual during an Academy Awards telecast.

``The Game'' was second with about $9.2 million. It premiered at No. 1 last week but dropped by 36 percent amid increased competition.

Expected to be one of the season's highest-grossing films, ``In and Out'' played on 1,992 screens and had the highest per-screen average of any film over the weekend, according to Exhibitor Relations Co., Inc..

Joan Cusack co-stars as Kline's fiancee and Tom Selleck as a tabloid television reporter who tries to find out if Kline's character is, in fact, gay. The former student is played by Matt Dillon.

``I think it's broadened a lot of people's opinions on these topics. Maybe five years ago you wouldn't see a film like this,'' said Robert Bucksbaum, publisher of the industry newsletter Reel Source. ``Studios were too scared to release a film of this nature.''

``In and Out'' proves ``If you've got a funny picture it's going to do well no matter what,'' said Art Rockwell, an entertainment analyst with Yeager Capital Markets.

``I think exhibitors are too conservative in judging audience,'' he said. ``People are more sophisticated than we give them credit.''

Wayne Lewellan, president of distribution for Paramount, said the studio wanted the public to view the film as ``a broad comedy'' rather than ``a gay movie.''

``There hasn't been a good comedy in the market in awhile and that audience was ready to go to the movies,'' he said. ``It's really not about gays, if you will.''

``Wes Craven's Wishmaster'' debuted at No. 3 with $6.5 million. The film by Craven, who made the horror hit ``Scream,'' targets young moviegoers and analysts predicted it could fall quickly after its first weekend.

``L.A. Confidential,'' which has attracted rave reviews, opened with $5.5 million on only 769 screens for fourth place. Its per-screen average of $7,152 was second only to the $7,681 reached by ``In and Out.''

The noir thriller about corrupt Los Angeles police officers in the 1950s stars Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Kim Basinger.

``A Thousand Acres'' was the fourth film to open in wide release. It finished behind ``L.A. Confidential'' with $3 million on 1,208 screens. The movie is an adaptation of Jane Smiley's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about three sisters and their tempestuous relationship with each other and their father.

With Jessica Lange and Michelle Pfeiffer co-starring, the film was expected to appeal to women, but not a wider audience.

``The Full Monty,'' a British stripper comedy, stayed in the top 10 at No. 6 with only a 1 percent drop as it expanded its market to 648 - still a small number of screens. It was expected to gross $2.88 million for a per-screen average of $4,444.

``G.I. Jane'' was in seventh place with $2.4 million, followed by ``Air Force One'' and ``Money Talks'' in a tie at $2.2 million each.

``Fire Down Below'' rounded out the top 10 with $1.5 million. Also of note, ``George of the Jungle,'' a summer film that dropped out of the top 10, passed the $100 million mark over the weekend.

Final figures were to be released Monday.

The estimates for Friday through Sunday:

1. ``In and Out,'' $15.3 million.

2. ``The Game,'' $9.2 million.

3. ``Wes Craven's Wishmaster,'' $6.5 million.

4. ``L.A. Confidential,'' $5.5 million.

5. ``A Thousand Acres,'' $3 million.

6. ``The Full Monty,'' $2.9 million.

7. ``G.I. Jane,'' $2.4 million.

8. ``Air Force One,'' $2.2 million.

8. ``Money Talks,'' $2.2 million.

10. ``Fire Down Below,'' $1.5 million.