Weekend Box Office : ‘Craft’s’ Magical Start Surprises Experts

“The Craft,” Columbia’s supernatural thriller starring four teenage girls, surprised experts by topping the weekend box office, beating out the holdovers “The Truth About Cats & Dogs,” “The Quest” and “Primal Fear” as well as the high-profile newcomers “Last Dance” and “The Pallbearer.” The comic-book-come-to-life “Barb Wire” failed to make the top 10 despite heavy publicity for its star, TV actress Pamela Anderson Lee, and going out on more than 1,300 screens.

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Three-Day Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “The Craft” $6.7 1,757 1 (Columbia) $6.7 $3,820 2. “The Truth About Cats & Dogs” $5.8 1,604 2 (Fox) $14.5 $3,633 3. “The Quest” $4.2 2,098 2 (Universal) $13.1 $2,010 4.”Primal Fear” $3.6 1,983 5 (Paramount) $44.9 $1,818 5.”The Great White Hype” $3.3 1,496 1 (Fox) $3.3 $2,239 6. “Last Dance” $2.7 1,563 1 (Walt Disney) $2.7 $1,721 7. “The Birdcage” $2.5 1,664 9 (MGM/UA) $112.8 $1,505 8. “James and the Giant Peach” $2.4 1,784 4 (Walt Disney) $22.8 $1,324 9. “Mulholland Falls” $2.2 1,625 2 (MGM/UA) $8.0 $1,380 10. “The Pallbearer” $2.3 829 1 (Miramax) $2.3 $2,979

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.