GOOD TIMING HIKES `VARSITY BLUES'; COMEDY-DRAMA DRAWS TEENS, TOPS BOX OFFICE RETURNS.Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer ``Varsity Blues'' hit pay dirt at the nation's multiplexes with an estimated $14.3 million at 2,121 theaters during the Friday-Sunday period, studio sources said Sunday Sunday: see Sabbath; week. . The Paramount comedy-drama, starring James Van Der Beek of ``Dawson's Creek'' as a Texas high school quarterback, benefited from the massive appetite among younger moviegoers for films with teen-age themes. ``We thought this would be a good weekend for us since there wasn't a lot of other competition for the young audience,'' said Paramount distribution chief Wayne Lewellen. The studio reported ``Varsity Blues'' drew strong exit-poll responses from males and females as it overcame a spate of negative reviews. Its first-place finish Noun 1. first-place finish - a finish in first place (as in a race) win - a victory (as in a race or other competition); "he was happy to get the win" underscored the strong market for comedies, analyst Arthur Rockwell noted. ``People want to be entertained en·ter·tain v. en·ter·tained, en·ter·tain·ing, en·ter·tains v.tr. 1. To hold the attention of with something amusing or diverting. See Synonyms at amuse. 2. these days, so the audience is often much wider for comedies than it is for serious films,'' he said. Lewellen said attendance should be strong today, with many moviegoers off work as part of the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. He predicted ``Varsity Blues'' could end the four-day period with $17 million. Robert Bucksbaum, president of the Reel Source tracking service, predicted ``Varsity Blues'' would take in as much as $40 million by the end of its run. ``It was smart for Paramount to get this movie out before there's a lot of competition for the young audience,'' he added, noting that 19 other youth-oriented films will be released over the next 15 weeks. Disney's ``A Civil Action,'' which led last weekend as it moved into nationwide release, finished a strong second with $10.9 million at 2,001 theaters, edging Universal's fourth weekend of ``Patch Adams'' with $10.7 million at 2,890 screens as the latter lost only 15 percent of its audience. ``Patch'' has topped $97 million in 24 days and could take in an additional $50 million overall. The widened release of 20th Century Fox's war drama ``The Thin Red Line'' performed well in fourth with $9.8 million at 1,528 theaters, easily beating MGM's opening of ``At First Sight,'' a romance-drama with Val Kilmer as a blind man regaining re·gain tr.v. re·gained, re·gain·ing, re·gains 1. To recover possession of; get back again: regain one's strength. See Synonyms at recover. 2. his vision, with $7.1 million at 1,814 locations. Rockwell, a former MGM MGM in full Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in 1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. executive, said the performance by ``At First Sight'' was respectable but represents a disappointment to the struggling studio. ``MGM had high hopes for the movie, but it's hard to open pictures in such a tough marketplace,'' he added. Sony's fourth weekend of ``Stepmom'' finished sixth with $6.6 million at 2,358 sites, followed by Universal's lukewarm luke·warm adj. 1. Mildly warm; tepid. 2. Lacking conviction or enthusiasm; indifferent: gave only lukewarm support to the incumbent candidate. opening of science-fiction thriller thrill·er n. One that thrills, especially a sensational or suspenseful book, story, play, or movie. thriller Noun ``Virus'' with $6.1 million at 2,020 screens. ``Virus,'' delayed from last year, represents another in a long line of Universal releases that have failed to meet expectations except for ``Patch Adams.'' Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) .' sixth weekend of ``You've Got Mail'' delivered an eighth-place finish with $6 million at 2,554 sites and has crossed the $98 million mark. During the coming week, ``You've Got Mail'' and ``Patch Adams'' will become the 14th and 15th films released in 1998 to gross over $100 million domestically, a mark hit by only 180 other films. DreamWorks' fifth weekend of ``Prince of Egypt'' came in ninth with $5 million at 2,215 theaters to top $81 million overall. Its opening of horror-thriller ``In Dreams,'' however, was nearly dead on arrival with $4 million at 1,670 screens. Final results for this weekend, including today, will be released Tuesday. TOP MOVIES Here are estimated grosses at North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. theaters for Friday through Sunday 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. industry estimates: 1. ``Varsity Blues,'' $14.3 million. 2. ``A Civil Action,'' $10.9 million. 3. ``Patch Adams,'' $10.7 million. 4. ``The Thin Red Line,'' $9.8 million. 5. ``At First Sight,'' $7.1 million. 6. ``Stepmom,'' $6.6 million. 7. ``Virus,'' $6.1 million. 8. ``You've Got Mail The audio announcement heard millions of times per day by AOL users. The voice was recorded by Elwood "El" Edwards in 1989 at the suggestion of his wife Karen, who worked in customer service for Quantum Computer Services (before Quantum became AOL). ,'' $6 million. 9. ``The Prince of Egypt,'' $5 million. 10. ``In Dreams,'' $4 million. CAPTION(S): Box BOX: TOP MOVIES (See text) |
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