Moviegoers Get Chance to Play Catch-Up

With both “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Unbreakable” holding strongly after Thanksgiving, attendance was up more than 15% from last year at this time. The post-holiday period was significant in that not a single new wide release debuted, giving audiences a chance to catch up on films already playing.

And as if to prove that Beatlemania continues into the new millennium, Miramax re-released Richard Lester’s 1964 film “A Hard Day’s Night” starring the Fab Four. Opening weekend was an impressive $50,445 in just two theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” $27.1 3,138 3 (Universal) $172.0 $6,835 2. “Unbreakable” $14.4 2,708 2 (Disney/Touchstone) $66.3 $5,333 3. “102 Dalmatians” $8.3 2,704 2 (Disney) $36.6 $3,068 4. “Rugrats in Paris” $6.5 2,937 3 (Paramount) $55.6 $2,215 5. “Charlie’s Angels” $5 2,751 5 (Sony/Columbia) $115.4 $1,825 6. “Bounce” $4.4 2,014 3 (Miramax) $30.3 $2,193 7. “Men of Honor” $4.2 2,188 4 (Fox) $41.2 $1,909 8. “The 6th Day” $4.0K 2,516 3 (Sony/Columbia) $30.6 $1,594 9. “Meet the Parents” $3.8 2,317 9 (Universal) $153.2 $1,650 10.”Little Nicky” $2.2 2,470 4 (New Line) $36.7 $900 “A Hard Day’s Night” $50,445 2 1 (Miramax) $50,445 $25,223

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.