Despite lowly predictions, “Hardball” sat atop the division over the weekend. It chalked up $9.4 million, not far off the mark made last week by “The Musketeer.” Given the week’s tragedy, many analysts expected this weekend to be the slowest of the year. It seems people needed an escape to the movies. “Hardball” continued Keanu Reeves’ single-hit streak. Since “The Matrix” opened with $27.8 million, all four of Reeves’ movies have led off below $11.9 million. Playing on 2,137 screens, costars reminiscent of the Lil’ Rascals batted with a $4,393 average per screen. Depending on word of mouth, “Hardball” may perform well, but Reeves’ movies usually strike out.
Lost at No. 2, the audience saw right through “The Glass House.” It opened with a measly $5.7 million on 1,591 screens for a $3,607 per-screen average. Leelee Sobieski received a career-high paycheck for “House,” but if she did not keep her “eyes wide shut” for a hit movie somewhere “here on earth” then as “Milich’s daughter” Sobieski might have “never been kissed” by a sweet paycheck. If you have never seen these movies, Leelee Sobieski will never top her career-high paycheck for “House.” That’s okay though because “a soldier’s daughter never cries.”
In week two, Monsieur D’Artagnan sauntered into the abyss. “The Musketeer” fell 49 percent to No. 3 with $5.5 million. As a niche martial-arts flick, most of its audience lunged at it in the first weekend. They held back very few reinforcements and did not have new recruits rendezvous with “The Musketeer” this weekend. With all $17.8 million for one, and one awful second week for all, “The Musketeer” should not collect more than $30 million in its run.
The women of “Two Can Play That Game” inched down two places to No. 4. They taught men to behave for $4.6 million, but they taught it to 39 percent fewer people than last weekend. With $13.8 million total, “Two” has surpassed its budget and marketing costs and will turn a profit for Sony.
Locking onto its new-old home at No. 5, “The Others” revealed enough secrets for $4.6 million from movie-goers. Every day, analysts wait for “Others” to lose its screen space and experience drops like all other movies, but it keeps on hiking up its total. With another 20 percent drop, “Others” has placed $73.4 million into its coffers, and it looks to become Nicole Kidman’s second biggest hit.
“Rush Hour 2” proved that “War” is good for money as it kept on fighting to increase its share of the box office. At No. 6 with $4.1 million, “Rush” has won $211.1 million.
“Jeepers Creepers” will not die easily. Hooked into the top ten in its third weekend, “Creepers” dismembered $3.8 million of its audience. It dropped to No. 7, and after reaping $29.7 million, “Creepers” should die off next weekend.
Coming toward the end, “American Pie 2” pulled $3.6 million out of eighth place. The successful sequel has scored $135.9 million cumulative and will fall off the top ten next weekend.
Rounding into the home stretch, “Rat Race” whipped the competition by dropping by 19 percent to No. 9. With $3.6 this weekend and $47.7 million total, the “Race” is a winner.
In the ten spot, “Rock Star” choked on its own vomit after only one week. The movie has tanked with $3.4 million this weekend and just $11 million overall.
Outside of the top ten, “The Princess Diaries” passed over the $100 million threshold with $100,000 to spare. Though it slipped to No. 11, “Diaries” may find itself back in the top ten next week.
Next week’s movie is too easy a target. “Glitter,” with Mariah Carey (or whoever she thinks she is) opens in clinics … theaters everywhere.