'SPIDEY' IS NO. 5 IN GROSSES.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

``Spider-Man'' has become the fifth-highest-grossing blockbuster of all time with a staggering $370.4 million in ticket sales after enjoying another solid weekend in theaters.

The film featuring the web-slinging superhero surpassed the previous fifth-place dweller, ``Jurassic Park'' ($357.1 million) after taking in an additional $10.3 million at the box office in its sixth week of release. The film seems assured of at least crossing the $400 million mark in domestic grosses.

``It's kind of exciting that the entry fee to the top five is $400 million or better, and we certainly feel confident we'll get past $400 million,'' said Columbia Pictures Worldwide Marketing and Distribution President Jeff Blake.

Blake said Monday that the studio will keep the film in nearly 3,000 theaters this weekend as it continues to draw strong repeat business and strives to draw in the rare moviegoer.

In order to move up another spot in the record books, ``Spider-Man'' must now earn another $61 million to catch fourth-place ``Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace'' which grossed $431.1 million when it was released in 1999.

``But it may be asking a lot in the first release to exceed the $431.1 million `Phantom Menace' has, so fifth place is probably where we'll settle in,'' Blake said. ``But `Spider-Man' is amazing - and you never know.''

If ``Spider-Man'' manages to defy those odds and manages to earn another $65 million, it would then surpass ``E.T. The Extra Terrestrial,'' which saw its cumulative gross rise to $435 million when it was re-released earlier this year.

Although there are no solid plans now, Blake said it is possible that ``Spider-Man'' could have a second run in theaters at some point.

``As you look at the top five grossers, two got to where they were by multiple releases,'' he said. ``I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that `Spider-Man'' would be that type of picture in the future. But the best answer is to keep it going as long as you can for now, and we certainly plan to do that.''

The two top-grossing films of all time are ``Titanic,'' in first place with a seemingly untouchable $600.8 million, and second-place ``Star Wars,'' which took in a total of $461 million through its original run 25 years ago, combined with a highly successful re-release five years ago.

Meanwhile, the latest ``Star Wars,'' ``Episode II - Attack of the Clones,'' finished the week in third place with a gross of $14 million. The film crossed the $250 million milestone in only its fourth week of release and is expected to surpass the $300 million mark. While a rare achievement, it is still a relatively low gross for a film in the ``Star Wars'' franchise. Current gross for ``Clones'' through Sunday stands at $255.1 million.