'Potter' tops Bond at U.S. box office

UPI | 12/1/2002 6:11 PM | unknown

[Sparta]

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" led the nation's box office as it edged James Bond's "Die Another Day" over the post-Thanksgiving weekend with an estimated $32.2 million at 3,682 theaters during the Friday-Sunday period, studio sources said Sunday.

MGM's "Die Another Day" finished a close second with $31 million but it eked out a victory over the five-day Wednesday-Sunday period with $46.3 million, about $500,000 ahead of Warner Bros.' "The Chamber of Secrets" over the same five days.

Both holdover hits dominated Thanksgiving holiday movie going, as expected. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" became the 45th film to cross the $200 million milestone on Sunday, its 17th day of release, and "Die" has become the 267th film to top $100 million as it reached $101.6 million on Sunday after just 10 days in release.

"It's no surprise that these two films did so well because they are by far the most attractive films in the marketplace," said analyst Arthur Rockwell of Rockwell Capital Management. "They are going to continue doing well for several more weeks."

Also continuing to draw significant numbers in third was Disney's fifth weekend of "The Santa Clause 2" with $12.3 million at 2,526 theaters to lift its 31-day total to $113.9 million. That leaves the sequel at 193rd on the all-time list and about $30 million behind the total taken in by the 1994 original.

By contrast, none of the five new films that opened Wednesday fared well. Disney's animated "Treasure Planet," an outer space version of "Treasure Island," led the pack in fourth with $11.9 million at 3,227 sites but that was somewhat downbeat given the strong past performance by the studio's animated movies and its reported $100 million cost.

Sony's opening of its animated "Eight Crazy Nights," starring Adam Sandler in a comedy set during the Hanukkah holiday, followed in fifth with $10.1 million at 2,503 theaters. "I don't think the idea of 'Treasure Planet' or 'Eight Crazy Nights' struck moviegoers as being especially intriguing," Rockwell noted.

New Line's second weekend of "Friday After Next" came in sixth with $7.8 million at 1,621 theaters, followed by 20th Century Fox's opening of science-fiction adventure-romance "Solaris" with $6.8 million at 2,406. Reviews were mixed for "Solaris," which stars George Clooney as an astronaut who makes contact with his deceased wife.

"I think the number for 'Solaris' was at the low end of expectations, given Clooney's star power," Rockwell added.

Universal's fourth weekend of "8 Mile" came in eighth with $5.9 million at 2,498 theaters to boost its total to $107.6 million. Miramax's opening of horror-thriller "Wes Craven Presents: They" followed with $5.7 million at 1,615 theaters.

Rounding out the top 10 was DreamWorks' seventh weekend of "The Ring" with $5.5 million at 1,912 sites as it pushed its 45-day total to $120 million. It edged out the 33rd weekend of IFC's "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" with $4.1 million at 1,257 theaters, boosting that film's cumulative take to $210.7 million -- the 38th highest all-time ahead of "Back to the Future."

Universal's second weekend of "The Emperor's Club" followed in 12th with $3.7 million at 811 theaters and Paramount's opening of action-adventure "Extreme Ops" generated little interest with $2.3 million at 1,800 locations.

The top 10 took in $129 million, or nearly $50 million better than the same weekend a year ago when the third weekend of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" led with $23.6 million during a weekend that was a full week after Thanksgiving. For the year, grosses have topped $8.1 billion, about 11 percent ahead of the same point last year.

On the art-house circuit, Miramax's opening of Australian drama "Rabbit-Proof Fence" grossed $92,000 at nine theaters during the three days. Focus Features' "Far From Heaven" grossed $2 million at 284 screens during the five days to push its total to $5.5 million.

Artisan's "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" grossed $288,000 at 58 sites to lift its three-week total to $638,000. United Artists' second weekend of drama "Personal Velocity" took in $58,000 at five theaters.

"Chamber of Secrets" and "Die Another Day" will face competition next weekend when Warner Bros. opens "Analyze That," its sequel to the 1999 comedy "Analyze This," with Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal. "Analyze This" grossed over $106 million domestically.

[Paul Atreides]

I am glad to see that Solaris is not doing well.

[Rum Tum Tugger]

I saw "Die Another Day" last night. Without a doubt it is the best Bond film ever. Not a boring moment from beginning to end.

I can't imagine why some knuckleheads (like Bo Dietel) have dissed it.

[Paul Atreides]

I haven't seen any of the Brosnan Bonds (they are always on when I can't break away to watch). I know they have the wild gadgets, but are the plots as far-fetched as the Connery Bonds? It seems like the Roger Moore Bonds, and after, began having a little more realistic villains.

[ChicagoRepublican]

Die Another Day is going to blast the internation markets and make more money than Harry Potter.

[Always Right]

"Chamber of Secrets" and "Die Another Day" will face competition next weekend when Warner Bros. opens "Analyze That," its sequel to the 1999 comedy "Analyze This," with Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.

If that is their competition, I wouldn't be too worried.

[Young Rhino]

I saw "Die Another Day" last night. Without a doubt it is the best Bond film ever. Not a boring moment from beginning to end.

The movie was good except for Madonna...she is endeavoring to prove that her acting abilities exceed her musical talent, and that is not to be construed as a compliment. The Bond theme song was so painful that I would have preferred to listen to fingernails on a chalkboard.

[Vidalia]

James bond has been PC'd and emasculated in this film (Bottled water, anyone?).

Bond films have been relegated to the offal troughs of current societal Political Correctness diarrhea for the brain dead and optically hypnotized, without thought or regard for any continuous plot that would last the length of a "Silent But Deadly" boiled-egg fart...

[KevinDavis]

I liked the movie myslef. I agree about the theme song it sucked!

[Paul Atreides]

From what I have read, the Madonna song has been universally panned. Why anyone gives her speaking roles is beyond me. She's really not that much to look at, especially since she went for the borderline lesbo look, but at least if they are determined to have her in a movie they shouldn't give her any lines.

[Paul Atreides]

Your whole problem is that you don't speak your mind. ;-)

[dreamusic]

Boring, both of them. I haven't gone to the movies in over a year. They just keep putting out more and more garbage.

[DoughtyOne]

I enjoyed the movie. Thought it was quite good. As for the song, I've very seldom liked the Bond songs the first time I've heard them. Later on I've grown to like them a lot.

[Dr. Frank fan]

I am glad to see that Solaris is not doing well.

Just out of curiosity, why?

[Dr. Frank fan]

It seems like the Roger Moore Bonds, and after, began having a little more realistic villains.

Y'mean like Drax, the guy who wanted to restart the human race out on a space station (by sending specially-selected couples to live there and then killing everyone on Earth)? ;)

[Vidalia]

I have been told that once before, and a rebirthing effort consisting of a very hot and wet blanket that would deprive me of oxygen was suggested by a poster on another venue.

Acting as a suggestee, I offered another suggestion for the suggestor relating to a very Moorish delight, a.k.a. the Wunnerful "Mare of Steel", but am afraid that it either went over their/its head...

or was already beneath them...

[Dr. Frank fan]

Boring, both of them. I haven't gone to the movies in over a year.

Which, of course, explains how you know that a movie like Harry Potter (which came out just a month or two ago) is "boring".

Oh wait, no it doesn't.

[afraid]

The new Bond movie sucked. Thats all i have to say about that.

[Paul Atreides]

Well, I didn't mean ALL of them. LOL! However, it did seem that he started going up against more drug dealers and jewel thieves.

[Paul Atreides]

It sounds like George Clooney is opposed to invading Iraq. When a London Observer reporter asked about America’s actions post 9/11, he replied:

“We live on an island. A giant big f - - - ing island. We don’t understand that people actually get mad at us. We still think of ourselves in terms of WW2. It’s not uncommon for us to say to France, ‘Hey, you’d still be speaking German if it wasn’t for us.’ The problem is the world has changed, and our involvement in these tiny little places is different than it was in 1941. It was a lot clearer then. We were attacked.”