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US box office looks bleak

Last updated on: September 08, 2003 16:06 IST

It is the bleakest box office in the United States so far this year.

David Spade and Alyssa Milano in 'Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star'Newcomer Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star could not even grab $10 million. This comedy, about a man trying to regain his past glory as a child artiste, grossed just about $7 million.

Sunday's estimates show that it grossed a few thousand dollars more than last week's top film, Jeepers Creepers 2. This horror movie stumbled by 56 per cent from the four-day weekend.

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As schools and colleges began to open across the country, the box office took a mighty fall, especially in the absence of strong new movies.

At third place, Pirates Of The Caribbean is still showing strength as it heads towards $300 million. It has grossed $282 million so far. Another Disney hit, the comedy Freaky Friday, with its $97 million gross and at least $20 million more to come, has become one of the most profitable films of the year.

Rounding out the top five, the police drama S.W.A.T. took its total to an impressive $108.8 million.

The supernatural thriller, The Order, starring Heath Ledger, took just about $4.3 million. It is one of the instant flops of the season. Originally called Sin Eaters, the film was set for a January release, but when the test audiences revolted against it, its producers decided to reshoot a few scenes, add more special effects, and release it under a new name.

None of that helped. The movie could be out of the theatres in just about two weeks.

Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall in Open RangeAt number seven, Kevin Costner's well-received Western, Open Range, reached almost $50 million. Costner, who was hitherto one of the most expensive stars in Hollywood, made the film for just about $25 million.

A tribute to tenacity and optimism, Seabiscuit is still busy harvesting the dollars. It has reached $109 million and could end its run with about $120 million. An Oscar campaign at the end of the year may see it being re-released in a handful of cities.

Freddy vs Jason, the slasher movie, is still drawing quite a bit of blood. With a $3.2 million gross, its total has reached $78 million.

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The Brittany Murphy/Dakota Fanning comedy Uptown Girls is still attracting many teenagers. With $33.5 million, it should look to end its run with $40 million. It dropped out of the 10, but American Wedding is still celebrating. At 11th place, the comedy has reached $101 million.

All three films in the American Pie series have reached $100 million. Its producers have said there will not be a fourth film in the series. But given the good performance of this film in North America and its excellent run abroad, there would be some pressure to launch a fourth film.

The box office this week:

Rank

Film

Weekend gross

Total
gross

Number
of weeks

1

Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star

$7 million

$7m

New

2

Jeepers Creepers 2

$6.6 million (< 56% from previous weekend)

$27.4m

2

3

Pirates of the Caribbean

$5.4 million (< 30% from previous weekend)

$282m

9

4

Freaky Friday

$5.1 million (< 44% from previous weekend)

$97m

5

5

S.W.A.T.

$4.6 million (< 44% from previous weekend)

$109m

5

6

The Order

$4.3 million (< 32% from previous weekend)

$4.3m

New

7

Open Range

$4 million (< 50% from previous weekend)

$49m

4

8

Seabiscuit

$3.6 million (<43% from previous weekend)

$109m

7

9

Freddy vs Jason

$3.1 million (< 56% from previous weekend)

$78m

4

10

Uptown Girls

$2.4 million  (<40% from previous weekend)

$33.5m

4

 

Arthur J Pais