Posted: Thurs., Sep. 16, 2004, 11:55pm PT

Weekend Box Office Preview
September 17, 2004

'Wimbledon' looking to serve up laughs, romance

COLD KISSES

Except for 'Sweet Home Alabama," September auds have not been swept away by romantic comedies. Universal gives it a whirl with its Kirsten Dunst-starrer, 'Wimbledon.'

TOP SEPTEMBER ROMANTIC COMEDIES
Sweet Home Alabama ('02) 
36 127
Two Can Play That Game ('01)  
8  22
Singles ('92)  
4 18
Educating Rita ('83)  
.1 15
The Pick-Up Artist ('87)  
4 13
*in millions of $
BOWING
Movie Title Engagements
Sky Captain ... World of Tomorrow (Par) 3,170
Mr. 3000 (BV) 2,736
Wimbledon (U) 2,033
National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (P and A) 899
Silver City (Newmarket) 113
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (Go Fish) 47
Head in the Clouds (Sony Classics) LA, NY 10
Zelary (Sony Classics) NY, LA 6
Cowboys & Angels (TLA) LA, NY 5
Merci Docteur Rey (Regent) NY, LA 2
Crutch (Illuminare) NY 1
A Dirty Shame (Fine Line) Baltimore 1
Goodbye Dragon Inn (Wellspring) NY 1
Particles of Truth (Dada) NY 1
YEAR TO DATE
(in billions of $)
6.3


'03
thru Sept.14

6.6
+5%

'04
thru Sept. 12

1. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
2. Mr. 3000
3. Hero
4. Resident Evil: Apocalypse
5. Cellular

AOL Moviefone derives its Top Five Most Requested films from activity on its Web site. The Top Five have historically been 80% accurate in predicting the weekend's top five movies at the box office.

Visit Moviefone
View opening films
RELEASE DATES AND CHANGES
As of September 16
Pic New date Old date
BUENA VISTA
The Hitchhiker's Guide... May 6 June 3
DREAMWORKS
The Island July 22  
FOCUS FEATURES
Seed of Chucky Nov. 12 Nov. 10
FOX
In Hetr Shoes 4th qtr. April 8 April 15
MIRAMAX
Underclassmen Jan. 7 Jan. 14
Hostage Jan. 21  
PARAMOUNT
War of the Worlds June 29 Summer
TARTAN FILMS
Anatomy of Hell Sept. 24 Sept. 17
THINKFILM
Assassination of Richard Nixon Dec. 29  
Red indicates new entry
Source: Nielsen EDI Filmsource

TALKBACK:

Have an opinion about this article? Be the first to comment


Fall TV Preview

Variety has everything you want to know about this fall's biggest shows.

Primetime Schedule for 2008-2009




The Middle-East International Film Festival kicks off this fall.


© 2008 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this website is subject to its Terms & Conditions of Use. View our Privacy Policy.