Roman numerals: $XXXII mil
Powerful 'Gladiator' bow opens summer
With studio-estimated $32.7 million debut -- the second-biggest of 2000 -- sword-and-sandal pic came out of the gate strong but didn’t set records or beat projections. It ate up 38% of the total movie market, averaging $11,130 per engagement, but fell far short of recent early May hits such as last year’s “The Mummy” or “Deep Impact” in 1998.
Studio and B.O. observers see the year’s first $100 million budgeter as a release whose most impressive numbers will come over time. That long view is due to one main factor: Unlike the PG- or PG-13-rated fare that has long dominated May, “Gladiator” is a “hard R” with gore galore. Remember, only three R pics have ever grossed north of $200 million, and the highest bow for an R is $37.1 million for “Air Force One” in 1997.
“This will jump-start the summer box office,” said Jim Tharp, DreamWorks’ distrib chief. “It’s going to keep playing well.”
Slate-wise, May will get increasingly summery from here, with “Dinosaur” and “Mission: Impossible 2” waiting in the wings.
Overall B.O. flat
For all of its exploits, “Gladiator” didn’t appear to spark the overall B.O., which ACNielsen EDI estimated at $87 million, roughly flat with the year-ago frame. In 1999, the $43.4 million-grossing “Mummy” accounted for about half of all receipts, trouncing runner-up “Entrapment” by more than $30 million.
One reason for “Gladiator’s” gaudy market share was the decision by several distribs to move out of the way. Just a few weeks ago, “The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas,” “Scary Movie” and Gwyneth Paltrow starrer “Duets” were all skedded for May 5.
Only other wide debut that stayed put, Sony’s “I Dreamed of Africa,” got decapitated by Russell Crowe’s Roman swordplay. Featuring Kim Basinger’s first role since Oscar-winning turn in “L.A. Confidential,” drama did one-thirteenth the business of “Gladiator.” It took in $2.5 million, or a sub-Saharan $1,184 per engagement.
“Scream 3” still has biggest bow of the year: $34.7 million in early February. But DreamWorks and “Gladiator” co-financing partner Universal are aiming for a much flatter trajectory than “Scream 3,” which won’t even reach $90 million domestically.
‘Gladiator’ scores in Oz
Foreign B.O. looks to be a major piece of “Gladiator” pie. Pic scored Australia’s fifth-biggest opening ever, with $600,000 on 287 screens. Weekend estimate is $5 million, U’s biggest bow ever in the territory.
Tharp said 22% jump from Friday to Saturday suggests sturdy legs for the Ridley Scott-helmed epic. It’s a sizable leap for a film whose auds were roughly half over and half under 25 years old.
Demographics shifted Saturday as well. Auds were estimated at 55% male, down from 65% on Friday. Research on “Gladiator” suggests women like the film, even if they’re not drawn to it in its initial days.
Discriminating adults could potentially be put off by smattering of negative reviews, especially from several high-end Gotham crix. But word of mouth in smaller markets already looks favorable, Tharp said, citing Friday-Saturday spikes in those areas.
Huge draw for females is clearly Crowe. Pic is poised to become his biggest B.O. smash and points to his commercial leading-man potential.
“All the other R-rated films with this kind of opening have Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford,” Tharp said. “Russell Crowe is joining that group.”
Top 10 chart lacked another star vehicle, as Julia Roberts and “Erin Brockovich” fell to the No. 11 spot. Ongoing releases are typical spring affairs, with less-than-A-list casts and plenty of niche appeal.
Standing slightly ahead of the workaday pack was New Line’s “Frequency,” whose 28% decline was the smallest of any wide release. Supernatural drama/thriller starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid racked up $6.5 million to edge fellow sophomore “Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.”
With “Screwed” opening Friday, Universal will spend little time sifting through the rubble of kiddie misfire “Rock Vegas.” Pic added $6.3 million to bring cume to $18.3 million, hardly a stone’s throw from $130.5 million gross of original.
On the upside for U, submarine actioner “U-571” kept steaming ahead. Two-week B.O. titleist slipped 38% in Week 3, finishing second to “Gladiator” with $7.6 million.
Despite the limp launch for “Africa,” Sony had plenty of auspicious news. Its Sandra Bullock starrer “28 Days” enjoyed a fourth week in the top 10, grossing $2.4 million to raise tally to $32.1 million. Studio also ran sneaks of “Center Stage,” a ballet-school drama helmed by Nicholas Hytner, director of “The Crucible” and “The Madness of King George.”
Said distrib chief Jeff Blake: “Teenage girls in suburban malls came out in good numbers.”
‘Timecode’ adds to tally
“Timecode,” Mike Figgis’ digitally shot, largely improvised drama released under Sony’s Screen Gems banner, fetched another $53,000 from seven locations. Cume is $188,000 and pic will add 16 new markets Friday.
Paramount Classics’ “The Virgin Suicides,” which bowed in limited release two weeks ago, added 71 screens for a total of 100. Estimated weekend take of $360,000 boosts cume to $929,431, with wider platform days ahead.
USA Films’ “Up at the Villa” appeared to have a lock on specialized houses, launching in 89 locations in a slow indie frame. But auds were fairly indifferent toward Italy-set 1930s romance, despite presence topliners Sean Penn, Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne Bancroft. Pic collected $338,269, or $3,801 per print.
“Human Traffic” proved a movie violation for Miramax, minimajor’s second gaffe in as many weeks. Tale of Gen-Xers roaming Welsh dance clubs reaped $10,500 from four sites in L.A. and one in Gotham. Screen average of $2,100 doesn’t exactly spell ecstasy.
