A dream preem for 'Scream'
Third slasher pic scares up $35 mil bow
Third installment in the string of horror pics released under the Dimension Films genre banner reaped an estimated $35.2 million for the biggest opening in Miramax history. The prior best, of course, was "Scream 2," which totaled $32.9 in December 1997.
Pic set more than Miramax marks. It's the biggest three-day bow by any distrib during the first four months of the year, not counting the $35.9 million that "Star Wars" grossed when re-released in January 1997. If the projections are accurate, the weekend would rank No. 28 on the all-time list.
Feedback was strong, if not overwhelming, according to exit polls still being compiled. Between 80% and 90% of auds in exit polls checked one of the top two boxes and a slightly lower percentage said they'd recommend the pic to a friend.
Unconventional strategy
Unlike its two predecessors, "Scream 3" was released in what's normally a staid February frame. Miramax co-chairman Bob Weinstein said that was no accident.
"We saw all the other mainstream fare and arthouse movies come out at the end of the year, and we figured it didn't have to be a lucky charm to be in December," he said. "We thought we could come out in February and be all alone."
That's a rare Weinstein understatement. "Scream 3" in fact occupied a different B.O. realm, crushing runner-up "The Hurricane" by more than $30 million, one of the widest margins in history. It also outgrossed the Nos. 2 through 10 pics combined.
Some naysayers groused that the Disney-owned minimajor had blown out the pic on a record number of screens in order to wring maximum cash from a dying franchise. "Scream 3" played at 3,467 sites, which translates to at least 6,000 screens, eclipsing the launch of Warner Bros.' "Wild Wild West" last summer in 3,342 theaters.
Weinstein dismissed such sniping as "jealousy" and said that with megaplexing in full swing the number of screens wasn't a stretch.
"We could see through the tracking that there was a lot of demand," he said. "It's an across-the-board movie. The audience is everywhere."
With a chuckle, he added, "If anybody would like to change places with us now, they can raise their hand."
Even staunch rivals had to concede that "Scream 3" boosted overall business. The top 10 estimates came in about 17% higher than last year's actual totals, and four of the top six ongoing pics had drops of 14% or less, albeit compared with last weekend's puny figures.
'Hurricane' season?
Despite laboring in the shadows, some other distribs found reason to cheer. Universal's "The Hurricane" is primed to take advantage of a best-actor Oscar nom should star Denzel Washington nab one.
With $37.5 million in the till, pic hasn't been a commercial hurricane, but Oscar consideration could lift it to sure profitability.
Sony's "Stuart Little" didn't fall off a bit in its eighth frame, registering $4.8 million in 2,702 theaters. Cume of $128.7 million suggests a final tally well north of $140 million, said distrib chief Jeff Blake.
Last week's champ, Destination Films' "Eye of the Beholder," had the worst erosion, sliding 32% to gross $4 million. Cume of Ashley Judd thriller is $11.8 million.
DreamWorks' "Galaxy Quest" showed staying power, dipping just 3% in its seventh outing. Comedy brought in $3.3 million to bring cume to $62.9 million.
Another long-player of note is Warners' "The Green Mile," which held steady with $4 million and has reached the $120 million barrier.
Miramax may have cannibalized its own teen aud, as the Freddie Prinze Jr. vehicle "Down to You" fell 28% amid the "Scream" frenzy. It ended up in eighth place with $2.9 million. Cume is seen at $16.8 million.
In the limited arena, Fine Line relaunched "Simpatico," which notched an Oscar qualifying run in late '99. In 283 sites, Sam Shepard-penned drama starring Nick Nolte, Sharon Stone and Jeff Bridges managed a feeble $500,000, or $1,767 per location.
"The Cup," also from Fine Line, spiked up a bit, pulling in $35,365 on four screens in its sophomore frame. Cume is $84,266. Cannes crowd-pleaser will add three markets this Friday.
Warners' "My Dog Skip" added another $107,000 on 30 screens and Disney's Imax release "Fantasia 2000" totaled $2.2 million worldwide for a global cume of $24 million.
The principals behind "Scream 3," Miramax included, have sworn this will be the final iteration. But, especially in the horror genre, such predictions ring a bit hollow. Especially when there is so much money to be made.
"That's about as believable as the makers of Beanie Babies saying right before Christmas that they're not going to make any more," said a rival studio exec.
But Bob Weinstein insisted Sunday that the third "Scream" is the last one.
"There's an audience that has grown up with 'Scream,'" Weinstein said. "I think we need to give them something they're equally avid about."
