Fox Searchlight's "Two Girls and a Guy" took possession of the top slot on the exclusives roster in its second weekend, after Miramax's "Sliding Doors" went wider.
James Toback's tale of a man forced to confront his sexual dishonesty owned up to $82,631 in nine lofts on both coasts.
Sony Classics' "The Spanish Prisoner" locked up second place, with grosses of $74,069 in six keeps in New York and Los Angeles.
Trimark's "Chinese Box" was the third most popular limited-release film. Wayne Wang's Hong Kong love story wrapped up $62,352 in five ports in Gotham and L.A.
Newcomers on both coasts included Sony Classics' "Wilde," which revealed $56,188 in four courtrooms; Fox Searchlight's "Shooting Fish," which hooked $22,424 in five barrels; and Sony's "Dancer, Tex. Pop. 81," which waltzed away with $10,663 in two dance halls.
In Gotham, Gramercy's "Go Now!" debuted with $3,657 in one hospital and Sony Classics' "Friend of Deceased" buried $12,527 in two cemeteries.
The following are the weekend grosses of films playing on a limited number of screens in New York and Los Angeles.
Los Angeles
"Two Girls and a Guy" (Fox Searchlight) fell 29% to $9,013 in its second at the Laemmle Sunset 5, 19% to $7,011 in its second at the Landmark NuWilshire, 34% to $6,361 in its second at the AMC Century 14 and 34% to $1,708 in its second at the UA Cinema Marina del Rey. It added 5% in its second at the Cineplex Odeon Universal City 18.
"Wilde" (Sony Classics) bowed to $14,972 at the Laemmle Sunset 5 and $9,061 at the Laemmle Monica.
"The Spanish Prisoner" (Sony Pictures Classics) slipped 8% to $12,687 in its fifth at the Laemmle Royal, rose 7% to $5,215 in its fifth at the Cineplex Odeon Beverly Center, and captured $2,953 in its first at the UA Cinema Marina del Rey.
"Chinese Box" (Trimark) dropped 25% to $8,407 in its third at the Landmark Samuel Goldwyn Pavilion and 25% to $3,829 in its second at the Cineplex Odeon Beverly Center.
"Deja Vu" (Rainbow) rose 37% to $7,021 its second time around at the Landmark Samuel Goldwyn Pavilion and 7% to $4,371 in its second at the Laemmle Monica.
"The Butcher Boy" (Warner Bros.) slipped 2% to $4,305 in its fifth at the Cineplex Odeon Broadway, 48% to $4,047 in its fifth at the Laemmle Sunset 5, and 33% to $2,369 in its fifth at the Landmark Samuel Goldwyn Pavilion.
"Shooting Fish" (Fox Searchlight) debuted to $4,164 at the Laemmle Sunset 5, $2,664 at the Laemmle Monica, and $2,013 at the UA Westwood.
"Suicide Kings" (Artisan/Live) gave up 14% to $4,400 in its third attempt at the Mann Criterion 6, 25% to $2,893 in its third at the AMC Century 14, and 74% to $526 in its third at the GCC Avco Westwood.
"Kurt and Courtney" (Roxie) declined 57% to $5,767 in its third at the Laemmle Sunset 5.
"Wild Man Blues" (Fine Line) stomped up $4,768 in its first at the Landmark Samuel Goldwyn Pavilion.
"Dangerous Beauty" (Warner Bros.) swooned 12% to $4,499 in its second at the AMC Santa Monica 7.
"The Big One" (Miramax) dropped 32% in its fourth at the Landmark NuWilshire and bowed to $1,611 at the Laemmle Music Hall.
"Dancer, Tex. Pop. 81" (Sony) debuted to $4,319 at the AMC Century 14.
"Sour Grapes" (Sony) declined 5% to $3,620 in its third at the AMC Century 14.
"The Truce" (Miramax) slipped 11% to $3,162 in its second at the Laemmle Music Hall.
"A Price Above Rubies" (Miramax) rang up $2,194 in its first at the Cineplex Odeon Fairfax.
"TwentyFourSeven" (October) faded 27% to $2,076 in its second round at the Laemmle Monica.
"I Think I Do" (Strand) rang up $2,022 in its first at the Cineplex Odeon Beverly Center.
"The Break" (Castle Hill) opened to $1,020 at the AMC Fine Arts and $885 at the Mann Fourplex.
"Hannah" (Star Film) dipped 18% to $1,633 in its second at the Laemmle Music Hall.
"Love and Death on Long Island" (Lions Gate) garnered $1,169 in its first at the Cineplex Odeon Beverly Center.
"Junk Mail" (Lions Gate) dropped 86% to $295 in its second posting at the Landmark Samuel Goldwyn Pavilion.
New York
"The Spanish Prisoner" lost 4% to $19,421 in its fifth at the City Cinemas Angelika, 32% to $18,359 in its fifth at Lincoln Plaza and 9% to $15,434 in its fourth at the Cineplex Odeon First and 62nd Street.
"Two Girls and a Guy" slid 16% to $15,611 in its second at Sony Lincoln Square, 32% to $14,681 in its second at the City Cinemas Angelika, 27% to $12,374 in its second at the City Cinemas 1, 2 and Third Avenue and 34% to $10,536 in its second at the Cineplex Odeon Chelsea.
"Chinese Box" declined 10% to $19,116 in its third at the City Cinemas Angelika. It rang up $17,216 in its first at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and $13,784 in its first at City Cinemas Eastside Playhouse.
"Wilde" bowed with $18,951 at the Paris and $13,204 at the Quad.
"The Butcher Boy" slid 10% to $14,443 in its fifth at the City Cinemas Angelika, 31% to $9,704 in its fifth at Sony Lincoln Square and 31% to $6,252 in its fifth at the Cineplex Odeon Beekman.
"Wild Man Blues" faded 16% to $13,310 in its third at Lincoln Plaza and gained 10% to $9,353 in its third at the City Cinemas Angelika.
"Shooting Fish" debuted with $6,768 at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, $3,841 at the City Cinemas Village East and $2,974 at the Cineplex Odeon Coronet.
"A Friend of the Deceased" (Sony Classics) bowed to $8,175 at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and $4,352 at the Quad.
"The Truce" deteriorated 34% to $6,183 in its second at the City Cinemas Angelika and 17% to $5,886 in its second at the City Cinemas 1, 2 and Third Avenue.
"Marius and Jeannette" (New Yorker) fell 27% to $8,051 in its second at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and 47% to $3,964 in its second at the Quad.
"I Think I Do" gave up 52% to $7,712 in its fourth at the Quad.
"Deja Vu" rose 21% to $6,916 in its second at the Quad.
"Sour Grapes" gave up 21% to $3,443 in its third at the Loews 19th Street East and 69% to $3,167 in its third at Sony Lincoln Square.
"Dancer, Tex. Pop. 81" arrived with $6,344 at Sony Lincoln Square.
"A Price Above Rubies" rang up $5,484 in its first at the Loews New York Twin.
"Fireworks" (Milestone) faded 24% to $5,189 in its seventh at the Film Forum.
"Suicide Kings" brought home $4,901 in its first at the Cineplex Odeon First and 62nd Street.
"Love and Death on Long Island" rang up $4,845 in its first at the Cineplex Odeon Art Greenwich Twin.
"The Big One" dropped 17% to $3,907 in its second at the City Cinemas Village East.
"Character" (Sony Classics) brought home $3,672 in its first at the Cineplex Odeon 62nd Street and Broadway.
"Go Now!" (Gramercy) debuted with $3,657 at the Cineplex Odeon Regency.
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