'Nutty' bonkers at B.O.
$42 mil 'Klumps' bow is best ever for Murphy
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"Nutty Professor II: The Klumps," Universal's sequel to its smash Lewis remake, opened to a gut-busting $42.7 million over the weekend to nearly double the durable "What Lies Beneath."
Studio-estimated bow is the second best for a comedy (behind "Austin Powers 2") and a record for star Eddie Murphy and U-based Imagine Entertainment. Pic also notched history's fourth biggest launch in July.
"I never had any doubts," said Nikki Rocco, U's distrib chief. "It played exactly the way we thought it would, only a little better."
Imagine's Brian Grazer said the opening was especially sweet given the heady expectations that had been mounting since early 2000. "There aren't any sure things these days," he said, "so there's definitely a sense of relief."
The feeling was largely confined to Universal City. Frame's overall receipts of $127 million, as estimated by B.O. tracker ACNielsen EDI, tumbled 19% from last year's astounding tally of $157.5 million.
As July turned to August a year ago, the marketplace boasted remarkable depth. "Runaway Bride," "The Blair Witch Project," "Deep Blue Sea" and "The Haunting" all were thriving, and at the start of August, "The Sixth Sense" arrived to cement 1999's place in the record books.
This year is a much different story. After entering the weekend about 1% ahead of last summer's pace, the B.O. slipped about 1% behind despite the "Nutty" numbers.
"We're getting into the part of summer where things really start to contract," said Tom Borys, prexy of ACNielsen EDI. "Comparisons with last August are tough."
Greasing the skids were Fox's "X-Men," Warner Bros.' "Pokemon: The Movie 2000" and Miramax's "Scary Movie." While all are certainly successful, their respective weekend drops of 51%, 68% and 47% diminished the total pot. "X" has retreated by more than 50% for two straight weeks, meaning domestic cume of $150 million is likely -- a slight come-down after its electrifying $54.5 million launch.
'Beneath' holds tight
On the flip side, extraordinary holds were posted by "Beneath," "Chicken Run," "Disney's The Kid," "The Patriot" and "The Perfect Storm." "Beneath" earned particular industry kudos for its 26% hold, which virtually guarantees at least $100 million domestically for the DreamWorks/Fox co-venture.
Harrison Ford/Michelle Pfeiffer starrer has captured diverse auds ranging from teens hooked on suspense to older auds grateful for the mature themes and established topliners. Per-engagement average of $7,800 is unusually healthy for a wide sophomore.
Weekend's only other major debut was Destination Films' "Thomas and the Magic Railroad." G-rated extension of Brit TV brand mustered $4.2 million to boost cume since Wednesday bow to $6.6 million. Average of $1,970 per engagement was unexceptional, but company officials expressed confidence in pic's legs, especially as "Thomas" is the only new all-ages film on the August slate.
Most summer pics have performed as expected, in contrast with the quirky 1999 span. Paramount's "Mission: Impossible 2" and Warners' "Perfect Storm" remain the twin towers. "Mission," approaching $215 million, will likely the be the season's lone $200 million grosser. Last summer saw three pics go on to surpass that gross level.
This year, eight pics opening in May, June or July have reached $100 million, as many as had done so at this point a year ago.
"Nutty 2" also conformed to most predictions. The latest tracking had it between $38 million and $42 million. It seems likely to finish in the vicinity of the original, which grossed $128.8 million.
Murphy acme
Though exit poll results were unavailable, the gross number alone says Murphy is reaching his broadest audience in this phase of his career. As a young phenom hot off "Saturday Night Live," he made a name with "Beverly Hills Cop" and "48 Hrs." But since "Nutty" in 1996, he's been on a different plane. On the verge of 40, he draws an aging core while finding plenty of new young fans.
"He was hugely successful doing edgy, R-rated comedy," Grazer said. "But now he's found a way to direct his energy at a PG-13 audience."
PG-13 is the charmed rating lately. Starting with "Mission 2's" June 2 sophomore win, six of the last eight weekend winners (all different pics) have been rated PG-13.
'Patriot's' new century
The latest member of the $100 million club is R-rated. Sony's "The Patriot" has refused to surrender despite a subdued July 4 opening. With $101.4 million in the U.S. till and at least that amount expected overseas, Mel Gibson period actioner will go down as a profitable venture.
Almost matching "The Patriot's" hold was its holiday nemesis, "The Perfect Storm," whose 27% dip and $7 million take put the cume at $157.6 million. WB distrib chief Dan Fellman says $190 million should be the final figure for the precipitation pic.
Fellman is also bullish about "The Replacements," which had 800 sneaks on Saturday. About 80% of theaters were 50%-100% full and 85% of auds rated the football comedy "very good" or "excellent." Keanu Reeves' first post-"Matrix" release opens Aug. 11. Warners also planned 800 sneaks on Sunday for "Space Cowboys," the blue-plate special opening Friday.
'Sunshine' still bright
Specialized distribs continue to build momentum in advance of the all-important fall season. USA Films, whose "Blood Simple" reissue is up to $764,705, launched "Wonderland" on four screens. Michael Winterbottom-helmed drama brought in $36,167. "Alice and Martin," a Juliette Binoche starrer from French director Andre Techine, held up well in its second week, grossing $18,578 on one Gotham screen. Paramount Classics countered "Alice" with potent French debut "The Girl on the Bridge." Festival darling starring Daniel Auteuil tallied $70,000 in six houses. Par Classics' "Sunshine" continued to thrive in 147 locations, piling up $364,000 to bring its North American cume to $4.3 million.
Artisan's "Chuck and Buck" stayed strong, adding $160,000 from 35 sites. Cume is $454,000. Lions Gate's "But I'm a Cheerleader" pocketed $225,000, sending cume to $615,000. Soph docu "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" fetched $48,000. "The Five Senses" collected $116,000 from 29 theaters for Fine Line. Cume is $220,000.
