'WORLDS' CONQUERS BOX OFFICE SPIELBERG EPIC SCORES 2ND-BIGGEST 4TH.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer ``War of the Worlds'' captured the second-biggest 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. weekend gross ever, but the Steven Spielberg-directed epic starring Tom Cruise could not snap an industry box office slump now in its 19th week. Released by Paramount Pictures, ``War'' had an estimated four-day gross of $77.6 million, a July 4 weekend total second only to the $88.1 million earned by last summer's ``Spider-Man 2.'' ``We are very, very happy,'' said Rob Friedman, vice chairman of the Paramount Pictures Motion Pictures Group. ``These are definitely big numbers. Everyone is responding exactly the way that we'd like.'' ``War'' has already reached blockbuster status, earning an estimated $113.3 million domestically since its release Wednesday. But its firepower fire·pow·er n. 1. The capacity, as of a weapon, weapons system, military unit, or position, for delivering fire. 2. The ability to deliver fire against an enemy in combat. Noun 1. was not backed up by the rest of the movies in the marketplace, including the weekend's other new wide release, ``Rebound.'' The 20th Century Fox release, starring Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence[1] (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor. , took in a meager mea·ger also mea·gre adj. 1. Deficient in quantity, fullness, or extent; scanty. 2. Deficient in richness, fertility, or vigor; feeble: the meager soil of an eroded plain. 3. $6 million to debut in seventh place. In all, the top 12 movies took in an estimated $160 million over the four days, nearly 25 percent less than last year's offerings. Three-day box office totals (Friday to Sunday) were behind 2004 by 16.4 percent. The weekend year-to-year comparisons have come up short for nearly five solid months and have resulted in a year-to-date attendance deficit of nearly 10 percent. ``Considering that we are in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of this box office malaise malaise /mal·aise/ (mal-az´) a vague feeling of discomfort. mal·aise n. A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness. , I think it was a solid weekend with it being the third-biggest Fourth of July weekend ever,'' said box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Co. ```War of the Worlds' did have great appeal.'' The sci-fi epic, based on the classic novel by H.G. Wells, crossed the $100 million mark Sunday in its fifth day of release, the fastest any movie has reached that milestone in the history of Paramount Pictures and faster than any other movie starring Cruise or directed by Spielberg. Friedman anticipates a long and robust run for ``War,'' which is appealing virtually equally to men and women and moviegoers both younger and older. ``If you look at the history of both Tom and Steven's films, they tend to play for longer periods of time and based on the exit (polls), we think this will have legs,'' he said. In addition to its impressive domestic haul, ``War'' took in an additional $102.5 million in 78 foreign markets as of Sunday. Monday estimates were not available. Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) .' ``Batman Begins,'' which had spent two weeks as the No. 1 movie in the marketplace, finished a distant second with an estimated four-day total of $18.7 million and a solid overall domestic gross of $154.1 million to date. Third-place ``Mr. & Mrs. Smith,'' starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, added $12.7 million to its impressive total. It has grossed $146 million after four weeks in theaters. The big-screen version of ``Bewitched be·witch tr.v. be·witched, be·witch·ing, be·witch·es 1. To place under one's power by or as if by magic; cast a spell over. 2. To captivate completely; entrance. See Synonyms at charm. ,'' starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell John William "Will" Ferrell (born July 16, 1967[1]) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American comedian, impressionist, writer and actor who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, , dropped from second to fourth place with a lackluster lack·lus·ter adj. Lacking brightness, luster, or vitality; dull. See Synonyms at dull. Adj. 1. lackluster - lacking brilliance or vitality; "a dull lackluster life"; "a lusterless performance" four-day total of $10.8 million. The Sony Pictures Entertainment release has a cumulative gross of $40.3 million. Rounding out the top five was Disney's ``Herbie: Fully Loaded'' which stars teen queen Lyndsay Lohan. ``Herbie'' took in an estimated $10.5 million and has earned $36.8 million in less than two weeks. Fox, with a buy-three-tickets-get-one-free promotion for ``Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,'' saw continued steady business for its epic over the July 4 weekend. It finished in eighth place with a four-day tally of $5 million. ``Sith'' has grossed a stellar $366.5 million to date and is presently the third-highest grosser of the six ``Star Wars'' movies. It is creeping creeping 1. gradual progression of a lesion or tissue growth. 2. prostrate growth pattern of a plant, e.g. c. buttercup (Ranunculus repens), c. caustic (Euphorbia drummondii), c. charlie (Glechoma hederacea), c. up on ``The Passion of the Christ'' ($370.8 million) for ninth place on the all-time list of domestic blockbusters. Greg Hernandez, (818) 713-3758 greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com TOP 10 MOVIES Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday 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 according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released today: 1. ``War of the Worlds,'' $77.6 million. 2. ``Batman Begins,'' $18.7 million. 3. ``Mr. & Mrs. Smith,'' $12.7 million. 4. ``Bewitched,'' $10.8 million. 5. ``Herbie: Fully Loaded,'' $10.5 million. 6. ``Madagascar,'' $7 million. 7. ``Rebound,'' $6 million. 8. ``Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,'' $5 million. 9. ``The Longest Yard,'' $3.5 million. 10. ``George Romero's Land of the Dead,'' $3.2 million. CAPTION(S): box Box: TOP 10 MOVIES (see text) |
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