A Big Weekend Gets Recorded in ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’

Resolution No. 1 for “Bridget Jones’s Diary”: Add 600 theaters and take over as America’s top film.

Renee Zellweger’s romantic comedy about a Londoner who fancies making lists and life-improving resolutions grossed $10.5 million in its second weekend to move into first place at the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The film debuted at No. 3 last weekend, when it opened in 1,611 theaters. Distributor Miramax added 610 cinemas this weekend and plans to expand the movie to several hundred more Friday.

“Last week, when it opened, was sort of a test run, and it sure rose to the occasion,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks movie ticket sales. “It proved to do so well that Miramax went ahead and added theaters.”

“Bridget Jones’s Diary” bumped off another Miramax movie, “Spy Kids,” which took in $10.2 million and slipped to No. 2 after three weekends in the top spot.

The weekend’s two big new films had modest debuts. “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles,” the third of Paul Hogan’s comedies about the colorful Australian outdoorsman, opened at No. 4 with $8 million.

“Freddy Got Fingered,” the gross-out comedy starring co-writer and director Tom Green, took in $7.3 million to debut in fifth place.

Playing in 2,271 theaters, “Freddy Got Fingered” had a so-so average of $3,199 a cinema, compared with $3,768 in 2,123 locations for “Crocodile Dundee.”

“Bridget Jones’s Diary” maintained a strong average of $4,739 in its second weekend. The movie has grossed $25.7 million in 10 days.

With “Bridget Jones” and “Spy Kids,” it was the first time Miramax films ever held the top two spots at the box office. Both movies are benefiting from repeat business, said Mark Gill, West Coast president for Miramax.

“Women, having gone to ‘Bridget Jones’ with their boyfriends or husbands, are going back and taking other people to see it. So we have our evangelists out there,” Gill said.

Many children are going back a second or third time for “Spy Kids,” which has grossed $86 million and is poised to become the second movie released this year to hit $100 million, after “Hannibal.”

“Along Came a Spider,” from Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures, slipped from second to third with $9.1 million.

The $8-million opening for the latest “Crocodile Dundee” flick matched the debut of Hogan’s original movie in 1986. But the first one opened in just 879 theaters before catching fire to become a $175-million hit.

“Crocodile Dundee II” had a $24.5-million opening weekend and went on to gross $109 million in 1988.

The latest “Crocodile Dundee” will top out between $30 million and $40 million, said Wayne Lewellen, head of distribution for Paramount, which released the movie.

“Audience reaction to the film is very good,” Lewellen said. “I can’t say the appeal has worn off, but certainly it’s not as successful as the other two.”

“Freddy Got Fingered,” hammered by critics for its vulgar gags, was hindered by an R rating that kept many of Green’s teenage male fans out, said Bruce Snyder, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox, which released the movie.

Two films did well in limited release. The chess drama “The Luzhin Defence,” starring John Turturro and Emily Watson, opened in six theaters with $72,896 for a strong $12,149 average.

Director Wayne Wang’s “The Center of the World,” a tale of an erotic weekend involving a stripper and an Internet millionaire, debuted with $72,000 at seven theaters for an average of $10,286 a cinema.

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BOX OFFICE

Estimated weekend grosses (in millions):

1. “Bridget Jones’s Diary”: $10.5

2. “Spy Kids”: $10.2

3. “Along Came a Spider”: $9.1

4. “Crocodile Dundee . . .”: $8

5. “Freddy Got Fingered”: $7.3

6. “Blow”: $6

7. “Joe Dirt”: $5.4

8. “Kingdom Come”: $4.7

9. “Josie and the Pussycats”: $3.1

10. “Enemy at the Gates”: $2.1