Boxoffice Report Monday May 20, 2002

1. "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones," $86.15 million.
   
2. "Spider-Man," $46 million.
   
3. "Unfaithful," $10.3 million.
   
4. "About a Boy," $8.4 million.
   
5. "The New Guy," $6.5 million.
   
6. "Changing Lanes," $3.1 million.
   
7. "The Scorpion King," $2.7 million.
   
8. "The Rookie," $2 million.
   
9. "Murder by Numbers," $1.7 million.
   
10. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," $1.2 million.

 Fox's "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" struck a blow for the Force at the North American boxoffice during the weekend as the second George Lucas-helmed prequel racked up an estimated $86.15 million, the third-biggest three-day nonholiday opening of all time behind those of Sony's "Spider-Man" and Warner Bros. Pictures' "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

While the "Clones" debut did not beat those of "Spider-Man" ($114.8 million) or "Potter" ($90.3 million), both of which opened in nearly 500 more theaters than did "Clones," "Episode II" eclipsed by far the first weekend of Fox's "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," which debuted with $64.8 million during the comparable session in 1999.

"Clones" has amassed a stellar estimate of $116.3 million since its release Thursday -- or after four days -- and is the second-fastest film to reach the $100 million mark behind "Spider-Man," which did so after three days. "Menace" crossed the $100 million mark after five days.

Including an estimated $67 million tallied during the weekend from 74 nations outside of North America, where the film was released day and date in most cases, "Clones" has amassed an estimated $183.3 million in worldwide boxoffice after its first four days.

In the battle between light sabers and the web-slinger, "Spider-Man" proved to have exceptionally strong legs amid the "Clones" onslaught. The Marvel Comics superhero film captured an estimated $46 million during its third weekend, posting the biggest third frame of all time by topping the four-day Memorial Day gross of Warner Bros.' "Twister" ($38 million).

After turning in a remarkably low 38% sophomore-session drop from its record-shattering debut, "Spider-Man" slipped an even slimmer 36% during its third frame despite formidable competition from "Clones."

"Spidey" has taken in an amazing estimate of $286.5 million after 17 days -- breaking every boxoffice speed record in the process -- and is the 14th highest-grossing film of all time in North America. "Spider-Man" crossed the $250 million mark Friday, or after 15 days, beating "Menace," which took 19 days to reach that level.

"Spider-Man" is expected to cross the $300 million mark Friday, or after a record 22 days, besting "Menace's" 28-day trek by nearly a week. Reaching the $300 million mark would make Spidey the 12th highest-grossing film domestically, immediately behind Fox's "Independence Day" ($306.2 million) and ahead of Buena Vista's "The Sixth Sense" ($293.5 million).

The only other film to open in wide release during the weekend was Universal's Hugh Grant starrer "About a Boy." The comedy-drama marked a classic case of counter programming and worked relatively well as the Chris and Paul Weitz-helmed film pulled in an estimated $8.4 million from a modest 1,207 venues and placed fourth.

The mostly well-reviewed "Boy," from Working Title and Tribeca, played older (72% of audience members were older than 30 years of age) and female (69% of patrons). Universal executives said positive word-of-mouth should help the film hold solidly during coming weeks.

The previous weekend's counter programming effort held up well as Fox's "Unfaithful" moved into the third slot with an estimated $10.3 million, off a slim 27% from its debut and moving its cume to about $29.8 million after 10 days.

Sony's "The New Guy" also held up well; the comedy placed fifth with an estimated $6.5 million, off a mild 28% during its sophomore frame and raising its 10-day total to about $17.3 million.

With the stellar opening for "Clones," the amazing hold of "Spider-Man" and solid performances by holdovers and "Boy," the market expanded significantly. The weekend is shaping up as the biggest three-day frame in history.

The estimated total for the frame's top 12 films alone is nearly $170 million, up an incredible 76% from the comparable period a year ago, when DreamWorks' "Shrek" ($42.3 million) and Universal's "The Mummy Returns" ($20.4 million) were the top pictures. The Hollywood Reporter projects the total for all films in the mid- to high-$170 million range, up considerably from last year's $103 million; that also would top the $171.9 million cume registered last year during an early-August frame, the biggest nonholiday three-day weekend ever recorded.

The exceptional performance of the national boxoffice in 2002 has moved the year-to-date total past the $3 billion mark, three weeks earlier than 2001's record pace.

Fox executives were thrilled with the performance of "Clones." "It's a great number; it's a great start," president of domestic distribution Bruce Snyder said. "The way the picture performed in its first four days, it looks like people are loving this movie."

During its first four days in release, the epic film notched two $30 million-plus days -- Thursday tallied $30.1 million, and Saturday grossed about $32.3 million -- and did not follow the pattern of "Menace," whose Saturday gross did not exceed its $28.4 million opening-day tally. "I didn't expect to see a second $30 million day this weekend," Snyder said.

Had "Clones" debuted Friday, its weekend gross undoubtedly would have been larger. Its Thursday release drained pent-up boxoffice anticipation, making Saturday's performance all the more exceptional.

"Clones" played in 3,161 theaters during the weekend, up slightly from "Phantom's" 2,970. Fox executives and Lucas have emphasized that boxoffice records were never the goal, but digital sound and quality of presentation were, hence the lower theater count compared with those for other "event" films of late.

Sony executives likewise are still swinging high on "Spider-Man." "With 'Spider-Man,' we're running both a sprint and a marathon; we're setting records quickly, and we're also going a long way," said Jeff Blake, president of worldwide marketing and distribution. " 'Spider-Man' stands on its own and showed incredible legs once again."

The web-slinger is the highest-grossing film for Columbia, topping the studio's "Men in Black," which grossed $250.1 million domestically.

In the limited-release arena, IFC Films' "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" continues to bring in audiences as the romantic comedy/drama placed 10th with an estimated $1.15 million from a slim 275 theaters. The weekend gross slipped a scant 9% from the previous frame, and the film has collected an estimated $5.7 million to date.

IDP's "The Believer" debuted in four locations in New York and Los Angeles and brought in an estimated $28,000. The biographical drama from Fireworks Pictures averaged a promising $7,000 per theater.

ThinkFilms' "The Mystic Masseur" added 26 locations, bringing its count to 28, and grossed an estimated $70,177. The Merchant Ivory film averaged $2,506 per theater and has taken in about $118,202.

National boxoffice for the week ending May 16 jumped a stunning 80% from last year's comparable seven-day period ($195 million vs. $108.2 million), pushing the year-to-date total to a nearly 20% improvement on 2001's record pace ($3.06 billion vs. $2.56 billion). That huge lead represents about $500 million as Memorial Day weekend approaches, signaling the official start of the summer season. Estimated year-to-date admissions likewise are rising, posting a nearly 14% gain on the 2001 pace.