`SPACE JAM' SLAM-DUNKS COMPETITION.

Byline: Associated Press

Michael Jordan and his newest teammate, Bugs Bunny, topped the weekend box office with the debut of their ``Space Jam.''

The comedy, which combines live action and animation, opened with a gross of $29.2 million, according to industry estimates Sunday. That sent last week's top-grossing film, ``Ransom,'' starring Mel Gibson, down to No. 2 with $23 million in ticket sales.

Debuting at No. 3 was ``The Mirror Has Two Faces'' with $12.2 million. The romantic comedy was directed by and stars Barbra Streisand as a frumpy professor who finds true romance with Jeff Bridges.

``The English Patient,'' starring Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas in a critically acclaimed adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel, opened on just 10 screens with a gross of $265,000.

``First Wives Club'' edged closer to the $100 million mark. It has grossed $99.3 million in nine weeks and slipped from No. 6 to No. 8 this weekend with a take of about $1.5 million.

Here are the estimated grosses for Friday through Sunday. Final figures were to be released Monday:

1. ``Space Jam,'' $29.2 million.

2. ``Ransom,'' $23 million.

3. ``The Mirror Has Two Faces,'' $12.2 million.

4. ``Set It Off,'' $5.8 million.

5. ``William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet,'' $5.6 million.

6. ``Sleepers,'' $2.3 million.

7. ``High School High,'' $1.6 million.

8. ``First Wives Club,'' $1.57 million.

9. ``The Ghost and the Darkness,'' $1 million.

10. ``Michael Collins,'' $850,000.