THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2001

''Pie 2'' reheated at box office

By Carl DiOrio

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Universal delivered another ``Pie'' in the face of box office competition, as its young-skewing sequel laffer represented the first repeat No. 1 performance in 12 frames over a weekend that bolstered prospects that this summer will make the record books.

In a substantial 53% drop from the previous frame, ``American Pie 2'' dished up $21.4 million in its sophomore session. In outpacing three openers and all other repeat players, ``Pie 2'' managed what no other picture has done since Disney's ``Pearl Harbor'' followed a boffo Memorial Day weekend bow by defeating all comers again in its second weekend.

``It's a fun film,'' Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said of ``Pie 2.'' ``There's a genuine sweetness about it that's obviously working.''

Industrywide, the weekend's $110 million in total box office represented a 9% improvement over the same session last year, according to data from box office tracker ACNielsen EDI. With $5.29 billion in total grosses so far, 2001 is also ahead 9% in a year-to-date comparison.

The season is outpacing the same period of summer 2000 by an even more robust 11%. At $2.64 billion in total box office so far, this summer is on track to outdistance not only last swimsuit season but also 1999's record summer.

In the latest weekend, New Line's Chris Tucker/Jackie Chan starrer ``Rush Hour 2'' kicked its way to No. 2 for the second straight weekend with an estimated $19.2 million in its third outing. The action-comedy sequel moved its total to $164.8 million.

Among openers, Paramount's ``Rat Race'' laffer dashed to No. 3 with an estimated $11.8 million. But Universal's WWII romancer ``Captain Corelli's Mandolin'' fell flat with $7.1 million bow in sixth place, and the Jesse James Western ``American Outlaws'' from Warner Bros. was outgunned with only $4.8 million in eighth place.

``Rat Race,'' a modestly budgeted ensemble production from Jerry and Janet Zucker (``Airplane!''), skewed 60% male with audiences evenly split over and under age 25.

``Captain'' was made for an estimated $57 million, with Universal and French corporate cousin Canal Plus shouldering two-thirds of the costs and foreign distribution partner Miramax covering the other third. Universal's Rocco predicted ``Captain'' still ``will have a life,'' as the Nicolas Cage/Penelope Cruz starrer skews to older audiences who take longer to support pictures.

On the modestly budgeted ``Outlaws,'' Warners was strictly a hired gun, receiving a fee from producer Morgan Creek for distributing the young-skewing picture.

``We're obviously disappointed in the results,'' Warner Bros. distribution president Dan Fellman said.

A $4.3 million performance for ``Jurassic Park III'' in its fifth weekend gave Universal three of the weekend's top 10. The dino sequel grabbed ninth place in chasing its domestic total to $168.2 million.

Meanwhile, several platformed pictures rode positive recent critical reception to successful expansions this weekend.

Fox Searchlight's drama ``The Deep End,'' whose bicoastal bow last weekend was heated by a rave New Yorker review, dove into 52 more venues for a total 58 in grossing $657,000, or an Olympic $11,328 per site. The murder yarn, which moved its 12-day total to $1 million, unspools in 50 additional markets next weekend.

The Miramax/Dimension suspenser ``The Others'' added 475 engagements for a total 2,153, as the Nicole Kidman starrer held steady at No. 4 with an estimated $10.8 million in its second weekend. The film, boosted by especially good notices for Kidman, has grossed $32 million to date.

United Artists' well-reviewed black comedy ``Ghost World'' added 20 theaters for a total 54 in grossing $437,000, or a riveting $8,101 per venue. The total revolved to $1.9 million a week before ``World'' adds eight markets.

Miramax's lauded ``Apocalypse Now Redux,'' an extended version of Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam War classic, added 32 playdates for a total 50 in grossing $470,000, or a well-armed $9,400 per location. Its total reached $1.2 million.

The Artisan mob comedy ``Made'' made $375,000 in 161 theaters -- up 33 from a week ago -- for an average $2,329 per venue and $3.7 million total.

Fine Line's transsexual musical ``Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' toured an additional 20 locations for a total 70, belting out $255,000, or $3,643 per site, in raising the total to almost $1.6 million.

The IDP/Fireworks' seniors love story ``Innocence'' grossed $19,000 in two Gotham venues. The picture expands to L.A. on Aug. 31. First Look's romantic comedy ``Bread and Tulips'' reaped $151,222 in expanding by seven theaters to 22, for a $5,800 average and $488,981 haul.

And Paramount Classics' ``American Rhapsody,'' a Cold War refugee drama from helmer Eva Gardos, grossed $38,000 in expanding to 12 theaters from seven. That was good for a $3,167 average and $99,000 total.

Next weekend will see the wide release of several new pictures, including Miramax's ``Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.'' The comedy's sneaks this weekend were more than 70% full, skewed 60% male and drew primarily 18- to 29-year-olds.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

The top movies in North America -- August 17-19

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Following are the final data for the top 10 movies at the North American box office during the August 17-19 weekend, according to studio figures released Monday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

Film Three-day Cumulative

Title Gross Gross

1. American Pie 2 .......... $21,104,656

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $87,280,760

2. Rush Hour 2 .......... $19,024,208

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $164,656,828

3. Rat Race .......... $11,662,094

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $11,662,094

4. The Others .......... $10,906,170

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $32,168,706

5. The Princess Diaries .......... $9,614,307

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $70,241,717

6. Captain Corelli's Mandolin .......... $7,209,345

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $7,209,345

7. Planet of the Apes .......... $7,142,635

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $161,238,071

8. American Outlaws .......... $4,855,475

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $4,855,475

9. Jurassic Park III .......... $4,440,740

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $168,327,710

10. Legally Blonde .......... $2,575,400

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $83,345,846

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

John L.:  The new movies that came out this week did not cause much excitement.  They all had fairly decent ad campaigns, but their plots and promotion did not inspire many to rush out the first weekend to see them.  I don't think many will see these movies during their theatrical run.  None of them were viewed by me, so no full reviews this week.  I am just going to do a quick top ten in ten since the movie quality is getting pretty low.  

REST OF THE TOP 10 IN 10:

1.    American Pie 2 is right on track to earn much more than the first movie and pretty much ensure that there will be a third helping of baked goods and band instruments inserted into delicate places.

2.    Rush Hour 2 has made more money than all foreign language Jackie Chan movies released in the United States combined.

3.    Rat Race has the best chance of the new movies this week to end up with a respectable box office take since it does look like it might be somewhat amusing even though it rips off about 5 or 6 other movies.

4.    The Others may turn out to be Nicole Kidman's biggest hit in which she is the actual star and Tom Cruise is not barely acting on screen with her.

5.    Looks like me may be seeing a sequel to the Princess Diaries called something like the Queen's Memoirs.

6.    Maybe if Corelli had a ukulele, the movie would have been a bit more popular, but with the bad accent of Cage, and the worse accent of Cruz, it was going to be an uphill battle for this movie to appeal to anyone other than the weepy female set looking for anything romantic.

7.    Tim Burton has said that he will not do a Planet of the Apes sequel which means that for all of you suckers who hated the ending, come up with your own resolution since that is all that you are going to get.

8.    American Outlaws tries to glamorize the criminal act of robbing a bank which is one of the top 10 worst things you can be witness to, so it is no surprise that this movie is being ignored by the law abiding public.

9.    Jurassic Park 3 is was a fun ride, but it is time to let it go and let the dinosaurs finally stay extinct.

10.    Legally Blonde has made less money than I thought it would, but since Reese Witherspoon is usually box office death, $83 million is not too shabby.

Next week's box office report will have a special look at the films of Kevin Smith that only a very small amount of people actually see, but have a strong cult following.  I will have reviews of Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and the new movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.  I may also mention a couple of other films like Summer Catch and Ghost of Mars if they can make the top 10.  Bubble Boy also comes out next week, but the mother of the most famous boy in a bubble wants everyone to boycott the film.  I wonder if she ever watched Seinfeld?  Woody Allen has his Curse of the Jade Scorpion period piece, but I doubt it will have much of an impact on the box office.  Sorry for the weak report, but it is the end of Summer and a guy gets behind.  Hopefully around Labor Day I will get back on track.  Bye for now.