'Black Hawk Down' Takes Off at Box OfficeBy Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The real-life military thriller ''Black Hawk Down'' led the North American box office during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, while Golden Globe wins were expected to boost several movies.

According to studio estimates issued on Monday, ``Black Hawk Down'' grossed about $35.3 million in its first four days of national release beginning on Friday, after playing to packed houses in New York and Los Angeles the previous three weekends.

The Ridley Scott-directed film, which revolves around an abortive U.S. military mission in Somalia in 1993 when 18 soldiers were killed, also opened at No. 2 in Britain over the weekend and at No. 1 in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

``This film clearly stands on its own as a really exciting depiction of a human event, and it crosses national boundaries,'' said Jeff Blake, president of worldwide marketing and distribution at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The $91 million film was produced for the Sony Corp. unit by Revolution Studios, a year-old production company headed by former Walt Disney Co. studio chief Joe Roth.

The Cuba Gooding Jr. comedy ``Snow Dogs'' (Walt Disney Pictures) opened at No. 2 in North America with $23 million, while ``The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (New Line Cinema) slipped to No. 3 with an estimated $17.3 million haul after four weeks at No. 1.

GLOBES ADD LUSTER TO MOVIES

Four of the movies in the top 10 snagged Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, headed by ``A Beautiful Mind'' with four victories, including best dramatic feature.

The mad-genius saga, which stars Globe winners Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, ranked No. 4 at the box office with $13.8 million for the four days.

That figure could rise to $14 million when final data are issued on Tuesday, said Nikki Rocco, president of distribution at Universal Pictures, which released ``A Beautiful Mind'' domestically. The number depended on how the movie did on Monday, when most children and many adults were off work observing the King holiday.

Rocco said the film already had ``borderline blockbuster status,'' but the Globes success bodes well for its holding power until Academy Award nominations are announced on Feb. 12. Universal, a unit of Vivendi Universal co-financed ``A Beautiful Mind'' with closely held DreamWorks.

After 32 days, ``Mind'' has grossed an estimated $76.7 million. ``Mind'' screenwriter Akiva Goldsman also won a Globe.

The other big winner at the Globes was the Nicole Kidman musical ``Moulin Rouge,'' which won three prizes. The film, which was released last May by Twentieth Century Fox, is now playing in about 11 theaters and has grossed about $57 million to date. Fox is a unit of Fox Entertainment Group Inc.

The Golden Globes, which are handed out by the 90-member Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are often touted as a bellwether of the Academy Awards. But last year, only six of the 10 Globe winners won Academy Awards. Crowe missed out on a Globe last year but won the Oscar for his role in ``Gladiator.''

``TENENBAUMS'' TARGETS $50 MILLION

Other Globe winners this year included ``The Royal Tenenbaums'' (Touchstone Pictures), which ranked No. 7 at the box office, eighth-ranked ``Kate & Leopold'' (Miramax Films) and ninth-ranked ``Gosford Park'' (USA Films).

``Tenenbaums'' star Gene Hackman won the Globe for his portrayal of the prodigal paterfamilias of a dysfunctional family in director Wes Anderson's black comedy.

The film tallied an estimated $5.2 million for the four days from just 997 theaters, taking its total to $37.1 million. With some help from the Globes and hopefully from Oscar, the film should reach $50 million, said Chuck Viane, president of theatrical distribution at Touchstone's Walt Disney parent.

``Gosford Park'' director Robert Altman won the first Golden Globe of his career for his work on the period murder- mystery, and earned a standing ovation at the ceremony.

The film grossed about $3.9 million from just 658 theaters, and had earned $11.8 million to date. USA Films distribution president Jack Foley said the Globe win would increase the film's awareness, but he noted it already had plenty of momentum. USA Films is a unit of USA Networks Inc.

``Kate & Leopold'' won the original song Globe for pop star Sting. The romantic comedy took in $4 million this weekend, taking its total to $42.6 million. Miramax is a Disney unit.

Elsewhere, the college comedy ``Orange County'' (Paramount) slipped two places to No. 5 with $10.6 million in its second weekend. The film's 11-day total rose to $28.5 million. Paramount Pictures is a unit of Viacom Inc.

New Line Cinema is a unit of AOL Time Warner Inc.

The top movies in North America -- January 18-21

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Following are the final data for the top 10 movies at the North American box office during the January 18-21 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, according to studio figures released Tuesday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

Film Four-day Cumulative

Title Gross Gross

1. Black Hawk Down .......... $33,628,211

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $35,471,639

2. Snow Dogs .......... $23,708,174

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $23,708,174

3. The Lord of the Rings .......... $15,268,084

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $248,212,887

4. A Beautiful Mind .......... $14,707,360

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $77,617,141

5. Orange County .......... $10,529,180

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $28,459,320

6. Ocean's Eleven .......... $6,755,340

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $171,624,204

7. The Royal Tenenbaums .......... $5,358,858

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $37,288,258

8. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius .......... $4,307,398

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $74,137,382

9. Gosford Park .......... $4,151,226

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $12,151,491

10. Kate & Leopold .......... $4,126,573

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $42,756,969

Reuters/Variety REUTERS

John L.: