Disney's plucky film "D2: The Mighty Ducks" was again atop the weekend box office charts with $ 5.5 million.
TriStar's "Threesome," the week's only national release, debuted in the fourth spot with a respectable $ 4.1 million. In regional forays, Trimark's "Leprechaun 2" scared up $ 630,000 for an OK genre debut, while Hollywood Pictures' "Holy Matrimony" was a far-from-blessed event with $ 410,000.
"Ducks' " movie success was looking a lot better than the fate of its Anaheim namesake. Its $ 5.5 million weekend was down a mere 12% from the Easter holiday frame. The ice crusaders were on target with a $ 2,470 average from 2,223 rinks to bring the cume to $ 28.2 million.
Warner Bros.' "Major League II" didn't have nearly its sporting rival's swatting power as it descended 23% to a second-place $ 5.4 million. That put its average at $ 2,490 from 2,167 bullpens. In the first 12 days of its season, it has a gross of $ 18 million. Warner Bros. was tracking the pic marginally ahead of the pond people.
Universal was hot off the presses with third-place "The Paper" at a maximum $ 4.6 million addition. Ron Howard's ensemble piece slid back just 17% for an average run of $ 3,020. Its 1,558 hot copies have rolled off $ 22 million to date.
It was another dull frame at the ticket wickets as continuing runs chalked up so-so results and waiting for a new potent marketplace entry was lagging somewhere behind Godot. Business eroded some 12% from the previous weekend and was 3% off the pace from a year ago when "Indecent Proposal" erupted on the scene. However, receipts remain at a record level with the overall gross through Sunday in the neighborhood of $ 1.27 billion.
'Threesome' at $ 4.1 mil
TriStar connected with its "Threesome" pickup generating slightly more than $ 4.1 million in its first weekend. The college-set, comically edged sexual triangle was looking rather potent in its raid on 1,212 movie dorms. It flexed to an opening average of $ 3,380.
"It's a good opening, not great," said "Threesome" co-producer Brad Krevoy. "The film's performing like a male action picture, which is totally cock-eyed. This has definite female appeal and terrific word-of-mouth. There's a very big audience that's been untapped, so we're confident it should have a good hold next weekend."
Also opening, but on a regional basis, were "Leprechaun 2" and "Holy Matrimony." The horror sequel had the edge as it completed its first three days with an estimated $ 630,000 from 250 playdates. Its pot o'gold amounted to a $ 2 ,760 average.
"Matrimony," a mix of thrills and comedy, appeared to miss the mark on both counts as it finished the frame with $ 410,000 from 235 communes. Its $ 1,910 average suggests such omitted venues as L.A. and N.Y. will have to see the Patricia Arquette vehicle on tape or cable.
'Four' in fifth
In fifth place, Gramercy's "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was a hair behind "Threesome" at $ 4.1 million. The romantic comedy keeps growing by adding dates and discovering a much wider audience than had been anticipated. It more than doubled its engagements this week and had an astonishing 101% B.O. boost. Its 552 outings churned out a $ 7,430 average, bringing its cume to $ 8.9 million.
Paramount's "The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" dropped 29% for a sixth-place $ 3.8 million. The homicidal comedy booked a $ 1,680 average from 2, 262 blotters. Its cume is $ 39.5 million.
Universal's "Schindler's List" was back on course with a $ 3.1 million weekend in seventh slot. The acclaimed drama fell a slight 18% for a weekend average of $ 2,250. Its 1,380 playdates have amassed $ 79.8 million.
Warner Bros.' animated "Thumbelina" was holding up best of the sophomores in eighth with $ 2.1 million. That was down a small 10% from the opener with a $ 1, 400 average. The fairy-tale classic was tinkering in 1,502 sites for a cume of $ 7 million.
Other second-rounders were fading fast, with Miramax's "The House of the Spirits" off some 31% with $ 1.2 million in 14th. Paramount's "Jimmy Hollywood" was deflated 44% in 16th spot with $ 820,000.
'Rim' shot
New Line's court actioner "Above the Rim" was hitting 30% fewer hoops in ninth with $ 1.9 million. The sports drama still had a decent $ 2,130 average on 891 hardwoods. Its cume is $ 11.8 million. Orion's "Clifford" was a tiny bit behind with close to $ 1.9 million to round out the top 10. Martin Short in shorts fell back 26% with a $ 1,860 average. Its 1,024 sites have rung up $ 5.6 million in 10 days.
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