Auds line up for 'Line'; 'Life' still beautiful
'Hurlyburly' has burly B.O.; 'Civil,' 'Simple' among leaders
Terrence Malick's World War II battle story detonated an explosive $182,639 on three battlefields on both coasts.
The second most popular limited-release pic was Fine Line's newcomer "Hurlyburly," which bedded $105,096 in six bachelor pads in Gotham and L.A.
Miramax's "Life is Beautiful" came in third place. Roberto Benigni's Holocaust-era tragicomedy liberated $100,981 from five screens in New York and Los Angeles.
The Christmas weekend saw many specialized releases reporting box office gains, including the Gotham runs of Sony Pictures Classics' "Dancing at Lughnasa" and "Central Station," Lions Gate's "Gods and Monsters," and Miramax's "Little Voice" and "Life is Beautiful."
In Los Angeles, "Central Station," "Lughnasa," "Beautiful" and October's "The Celebration" picked up momentum.
The following are the weekend grosses of films playing on a limited number of screens.
New York
"The Thin Red Line" (20th Century Fox) bowed to $59,007 at the United Artists Union Square 14 and $57,868 at the Clearview Ziegfeld.
"Life is Beautiful" (Miramax) gained 32% to $43,040 in its 10th at the Paris and 42% to $27,520 in its 10th at the City Cinemas Angelika.
"Hurlyburly" (Fine Line) debuted with $24,480 at the City Cinemas Angelika, $19,209 at the Loews Cineplex Lincoln Square and $15,571 at the Clearview Chelsea.
"A Simple Plan" (Sony) fell 22% to $15,969 in its third at the Loews Village Sevenplex and 39% to $13,984 in its third at the Loews Cineplex Lincoln Square. It climbed 3% to $15,629 in its third at the Loews Cineplex First and 62nd Street.
"A Civil Action" (Buena Vista) bowed to $40,049 at the Loews Cineplex Lincoln Square.
"Little Voice" (Miramax) gained 47% to $14,434 in its third at Lincoln Plaza, 34% to $11,321 in its fourth at the United Artists Union Square 14, and 21% to $6,851 in its fourth at the Crown Gotham.
"Central Station" (Sony Pictures Classics) climbed 51% to $20,064 in its sixth at Lincoln Plaza. It brought home $8,769 in its first at the Quad.
"The General" (Sony Pictures Classics) gained 12% to $15,499 in its second at Lincoln Plaza and gave up 7% to $11,959 in its second at the City Cinemas Angelika.
"The Swindle" (New Yorker) debuted with $15,685 at Lincoln Plaza and $7,266 at the Quad.
"The Theory of Flight" (Fine Line) bowed to $15,571 at the Clearview Beekman, $4,535 at the Loews Cineplex Regency and $1,990 at the City Cinemas Village East.
"Gods and Monsters" (Lions Gate) climbed 59% to $12,509 in its eighth at Lincoln Plaza and 41% to $8,840 in its eighth at the Quad.
"Dancing at Lughnasa" (Sony Pictures Classics) climbed 38% to $7,840 in its seventh at Lincoln Plaza and 60% to $5,185 in its seventh at the United Artists Union Square.
"Steam: The Turkish Bath" (Strand) dropped 7% to $11,335 at the Quad.
"Happiness" (Good Machine) surged 46% to $10,132 in its third at the City Cinemas Angelika.
"The Celebration" (October) rang up $5,931 in its first at the Screening Room.
"Touch of Evil" (October/Univ.) expanded 23% to $5,347 in its sixth at the Film Forum.
"The Emperor's Shadow" (Fox Lorber) sacrificed 9% to $4,190 in its second at the Cinema Village.
Los Angeles
"The Thin Red Line" bowed to $65,764 at the Mann Village Westwood.
"Hurlyburly" debuted with $17,219 at the Laemmle Sunset 5, $12,732 at the Loews Cineplex Broadway, $9,476 at the United Artists Westwood and $6,409 at the AMC Century 14.
"Life is Beautiful" climbed 29% to $13,614 in its 10th at the Landmark Fine Arts, 65% to $11,756 in its 10th at the Laemmle Monica and 1% to $5,051 in its 10th at the Landmark Westside Pavilion.
"A Civil Action" bowed to $30,030 at the AMC Century 14.
"A Simple Plan" fell 11% to $7,947 in its third at the Loews Cineplex Broadway, 45% to $5,244 in its third at the AMC Century 14, 28% to $5,007 in its second at the Mann Plaza Westwood and 37% to $4,157 in its third at the Loews Cineplex Beverly Center. It rose 11% to $4,347 in its second at the Loews Cineplex Universal City 18.
"Little Voice" climbed 7% to $10,004 in its fourth at the Laemmle Sunset 5 and 25% to $5,548 in its second at the Laemmle Monica. It gave up 9% to $3,863 in its fourth at the Landmark Westside Pavilion.
"The General" conquered $7,148 at the Landmark NuWilshire Twin and $5,865 at the Laemmle Sunset 5.
"Central Station" increased 16% to $4,129 in its fifth at the Landmark Westside Pavilion and 79% to $3,763 in its third at the Laemmle Monica.
"Gods and Monsters" rang up $4,042 in its first at the Laemmle Music Hall and $2,905 in its first at the Mann Fourplex West.
"The Day of the Beast" (Trimark) debuted with $6,479 at the Landmark Nuart.
"The Celebration" climbed 30% to $5,589 in its second at the Laemmle Music Hall.
"Dancing at Lughnasa" rose 15% to $2,933 in its sixth at the Laemmle Royal.
"The Theory of Flight" debuted with $2,080 at the Loews Cineplex Showcase.
