BOX OFFICE TAKE UP 7% IN WILD, WILD WEEKEND.Byline: Dave McNary Staff Writer The second half of 1999 began with a bang at the nation's multiplexes, fueled by a robust 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. holiday weekend that helped keep business sizzling siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. , up an impressive 7 percent so far this year over 1998's record-setting pace. Moviegoers pushed seven entries past the $11 million mark during the Friday-Monday period, led by Will Smith's ``Wild Wild West'' with an estimated $36.8 million at 3,342 theaters. With current offerings taking in more than $165 million during the holiday weekend, 1999's total has now hit $3.2 billion to open a $200 million gap over the same period last year. Although 1999 trailed 1998 for the first five months due to last year's ``Titanic'' grosses, the summer season that kicked off with ``The Mummy'' and ``Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace'' has supercharged su·per·charge tr.v. su·per·charged, su·per·charg·ing, su·per·charg·es 1. To increase the power of (an engine, for example), as by fitting with a supercharger. 2. moviegoing, particularly among the core audience of those under 25. ``We're having a great year and the gap over last year is probably going to widen,'' said Robert Bucksbaum, president of the Reel Source forecasting service. ``There was pretty solid business over the Fourth and the two weekends before that were phenomenal.'' The final domestic gross for 1998 was a record-setting $6.93 billion, up 9 percent over 1997. Positive buzz has emerged for many of this summer's upcoming entries, including Universal's ``American Pie'' and ``Mystery Men,'' Sony's ``Muppets in Outer Space,'' Warner's ``Eyes Wide Shut'' and ``Deep Blue Sea,'' and Paramount's ``The Wood'' and ``Runaway Bride This article is about meanings of Runaway bride. For other uses of the word Runaway, see Runaway. A runaway bride is a bride who runs away from the wedding chapel, usually shortly before the ceremony, often due to so-called cold feet. ,'' 20th Century Fox's ``Lake Placid Lake Placid, village (1990 pop. 2,485), Essex co., NE N.Y.; settled 1850, inc. 1900. In the Adirondack Mts. at an altitude of 1,800 ft (549 m), the village surrounds Mirror Lake. It is a famous resort and sports center. ,'' DreamWorks' ``The Haunting'' and Disney's ``Inspector Gadget.'' Bucksbaum believes ``American Pie,'' a high-school coming-of-age comedy opening Friday, will become a serious hit among young moviegoers and gross $135 million by the end of its run. ``We're very high on the film and we think it will set a new standard for teen movies,'' he added. Universal, in a show of confidence, held sneak previews sneak preview n. A single public showing of a movie before its general release. Noun 1. sneak preview - a preview to test audience reactions Monday at more than 1,000 theaters for ``American Pie,'' which could challenge ``Wild Wild West'' for the lead next weekend with each possibly topping $20 million. The holiday weekend underscored the power of younger moviegoers as they ignored the array of negative reviews for ``Wild Wild West.'' The action-comedy has now topped $50 million in its first six days for Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . Final figures for the Friday-Monday period will be released today. TOP MOVIES Top films released in 1999, studio and gross through July 5: 1. ``Phantom Menace,'' Fox, $371.1 million 2. ``Austin Powers,'' New Line, $170.4 million 3. ``The Matrix,'' Warner, $166 million 4. ``The Mummy,'' Universal, $148 million 5. ``Tarzan,'' Disney, $111 million 6. ``Analyze This,'' Warner, $105 million 7. ``Notting Hill,'' Universal, $97.9 million 8. ``Big Daddy,'' Sony, $90.1 million 9. ``Entrapment entrapment, in law, the instigation of a crime in the attempt to obtain cause for a criminal prosecution. Situations in which a government operative merely provides the occasion for the commission of a criminal act (e.g. ,'' Fox, $84 million 10. ``Payback Payback The length of time it takes to recover the initial cost of a project, without regard to the time value of money. ,'' Paramount, $81.4 million CAPTION(S): box Box: Top movies (see text) |
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