'POTTER' SPELLBINDS AUDIENCES HARRY WAVES HIS WAND, SENDS EMINEM TO NO. 2.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer ``Harry Potter A potter is someone who makes pottery. Potter may also refer to: People
prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. box office estimates Sunday. The Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . release came in behind only the record openings of ``Spider-Man'' ($114.8 million) and ``Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' ($90.3 million) and marked the second-highest debut of any Warner Bros. movie ever. ``We really didn't think we could reach the plateau plateau, elevated, level or nearly level portion of the earth's surface, larger in summit area than a mountain and bounded on at least one side by steep slopes, occurring on land or in oceans. of the first movie, which was such a cultural phenomenon and had such anticipation surrounding sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. it,'' said Warner Bros. Distribution President Dan Fellman. ``So we are extremely pleased that 'Chamber of Secrets' was only 3 percent less than the original 'Potter.''' Friday's grosses of $29.5 million were spectacular but somewhat lower than opening day numbers for the first film, which took in $32.3 million amid fever-pitch anticipation. But second- and third-day grosses were nearly identical to those for ``Sorcerer's Stone'' 12 months ago. In fact, Saturday's gross of $33.6 million was the highest single-day gross for a PG-rated film ever, just ahead of the $33.5 million Saturday for the first film. Sunday's numbers were projected to be $24.5 million, barely ahead of the $24.4 million earned by ``Sorcerer's Stone'' on its first Sunday. ``The film held up in terms of the buzz,'' said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. ``It proves that 'Potter' is relevant. This is a 1-year-old franchise and already it has posted the second- and third-largest openings in history. That tells you a lot about the power of 'Potter.''' The audiences for ``Chamber'' were equally split between males and females. The film's longer running time of 2 hours and 41 minutes didn't seem to impact the grosses in this era of the megaplex as the film had the widest release in history: a record 3,682 theaters and 8,500 screens. The robust business for ``Potter'' had some impact on business for the rest of the films in the top 12, but there were several noteworthy milestones. Finishing in a distant but respectable second was Universal Pictures' ``8 Mile,'' the film debut of rapper Eminem. The film dropped a steep 58 percent from its stunning debut to earned an estimated $21.3 million in its second weekend. It should surpass the $100 million mark by next weekend with its cumulative gross at $86.4 million as of Sunday. DreamWorks' surprise smash ``The Ring'' finished in fourth place and became the 17th movie of the year to cross the $100 million mark. It earned an estimated $11 million for a cumulative gross of $101.6 million. Meanwhile, independent phenomenon ``My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' is perilously per·il·ous adj. Full of or involving peril; dangerous. per  il·ous·ly adv.per close to reaching the $200 million milestone as it finished in sixth place with an estimated gross of $4.7 million for a total of $199.6 million to date. The weekend's only other new wide release besides ``Chamber'' was ``Half Past Dead'' from Screen Gems See Legato. See also GEMMS. . It debuted in the fifth position with an estimated gross of $8.2 million. Final box office figures will be released today. TOP MOVIES Estimated ticket sales 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, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released today. 1. ``Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,'' $87.7 million. 2. ``8 Mile,'' $21.3 million. 3. ``The Santa Clause 2,'' $15.1 million. 4. ``The Ring,'' $11 million. 5. ``Half Past Dead,'' $8.2 million. 6. ``My Big Fat Greek Wedding,'' $4.7 million. 7. ``Jackass jackass: see ass. : The Movie,'' $4.03 million. 8. ``I Spy I spy is a guessing game usually played in families with young children, partly to assist in both observation and in alphabet familiarity. I spy is often played as a car game. ,'' $4 million. 9. ``Frida,'' $2.9 million. 10. ``Sweet Home Alabama Sweet Home Alabama (song) ,'' $2.4 million. CAPTION(S): box Box: TOP MOVIES (see text) |
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