Last weekend, Pixar Animation Studios broke its own animation record with “Monsters, Inc.” “Monsters” opened with a massive $62.6 million, breaking the $57.4 million record of Pixar’s own “Toy Story 2.” Haunting 3,237 closets, “Monsters” Billy Crystal and John Goodman averaged $19,332 per screen. With strong Saturday sales and incredible word-of-mouth, the “Monsters” should rule until a certain boy-wizard hexes them all in two weeks.
Opening at No. 2, Jet Li’s “The One” grossed $19.1 million, becoming Li’s biggest opener. Jumping into 2,894 universes, “The One” grabbed $6,604 per screen. As with most martial arts flicks, “The One” will probably not last long.
At No. 3, John Travolta opened “Domestic Disturbance” to $14 million. “Disturbance” averaged $4,822 from 2,910 screens. Travolta is “out” again, but unlike disco, he tends to bounce back.
“K-PAX” dropped 42% to $10 million. The Kevin Spacey vehicle dropped steeply, but it might level its descent soon. “K-PAX” has $31.5 million overall after two weeks.
At No. 5, “13 Ghosts” proved luckier than its title. Although it dropped 48% at the box office to $7.9 million, its drop off was not as much as Columbia/Warner Brothers’ “The House on Haunted Hill.” With $27.7 million total, “Ghosts” is fast approaching a profit.
Drew Barrymore’s third trip “Riding in Cars with Boys” did not do as well for her as the second. “Boys” eased a respectable 33% to $4 million. With $24.6 million cumulative, “Boys” has long road ahead to profitability.
At No. 7, “From Hell” fell 42% to $3.5 million. The Limey story has $26.2 million overall.
“Training Day” is drawing to an end. “Day” lost 41% of its audience but kept $3 million for itself and a $69.6 million total. The most successful film of the fall was nearly eclipsed in a single week by “Monsters, Inc.”, but Denzel’s movie is still a winner.
At No. 9 there is a loser. “Bandits” grossed $2.8 million, down 44%. With only $36.3 million cumulative, the comedy caper is in for it next week.
In the ten spot, “Serendipity” spent its last week in the top ten. After $43.5 total, “Serendipity” is S.O.L. next week.