Beating out the only major new release BIG MOMMAS HOUSE, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 finished atop the U.S. box office for the second straight weekend. The TV series redux grossed another US$27.02 million. The sensational sequel, with primary visual effects by Pacific Data Images, Double Negative Ltd. and CFC, has now topped the scales by making $130.7 million in only one and a half weeks in theatres. Now proving that Martian Lawrence in a rubber fat ladys suit is more attractive to moviegoers than realistic talking dinosaurs, Disneys DINOSAUR slipped to #3, making $12.04 million. The global box office champion GLADITOR, with primary visual effects by Mill Film Ltd., slipped to fifth in the States. The rumble in Rome took home another $8.38 million, bringing its U.S. cume to $139 million. Keeping the dial steady at #7, FREQUENCY filled New Lines pocket with an additional $2.02 million. The sci-fi sniffler has racked up a total of $37.79 million. Universals U-571 slipped a spot to ninth place. The World War II war flick grossed $1.54 million over the weekend, bringing its cume to $71.11 million. Universals THE FLINTSTONES VIVA ROCK VEGAS, with primary visual effects by Cinesite, also fell one notch to #12. The prehistoric prequel grossed out audiences to the tune of $734,825, bringing its total purse to $31.09 million. Finally feeling the full force of the worst reviews in decades, Warner Bros.' BATTLEFIELD EARTH nose-dived from #12 to #22. Scientology sci-fi disaster managed to make another $205,745, raising its meager cume to $20.87 million. THE ROAD TO EL DORADO slipped 4 spots to rest at #26. DreamWorks dubious duo snatched up an additional $168,378, raising its total gold pile to $50.22 million. The IMAX 3D adventure T-REX: BACK TO THE CRETACEOUS moved up 9 slots to 27th place. The Jurassic jaw-dropper, with primary visual effects by VIFX, made another $156,450, bringing its 591-day cume to $30.06 million. Other animated and special effects laden films finishing in the top fifty were: FINAL DESTINATION at #30, with a gross of $144,581 and a cume of $51.57 million; THE TIGGER MOVIE at #32, with a gross of $122,897 and a cume of $44.74 million; ROMEO MUST DIE at #41, with a gross of $109,790 and a cume of $55.73 million; MISSION TO MARS at #43, with a gross of $90,156 and a cume of $59.92 million; SNOW DAY at #44, with a gross of $85,712 and a cume of $59.62 million; ALIEN ADVENTURE at #48, with a gross of $70,680 and a cume of $1.09 million; and AMERICAN BEAUTY at #50, with a gross of $66,113 and a cume of $130.1 million. Worth note is that after 199 days in release, TOY STORY 2 fell out of the top fifty for the first time. Landing at #51, the second highest grossing animated feature of all time worldwide made another $65,280 in the U.S., bringing its Stateside cume to $245.4 million. Box office reports obtained in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
