STEVEN SPIELBERG - STRANGER CAUSES BUSY SIGNAL AT BOX OFFICE

Yet another low-budget horror flick, this one aimed at younger women, knocked over all the Oscar nominees, as When a Stranger Calls, which cost $15 million to produce, earned an estimated $22 million during its Super Bowl weekend debut. The figure was well above analysts' predictions and represented the biggest box-office take for any film on a Super Bowl weekend in history. It was the third weekend in the past five that a horror film opened at the top spot. Daily Variety reported that 58 percent of the audience was under 21 and 55 percent was female. The only other newcomer had far less success (although it received mostly positive reviews). The interracial romance Something New, opened at No. 7 with just $5 million. Last week's box-office champ, Big Momma's House 2, slipped to second place with $13.4 million, while the G-rated Nanny McPhee fell to No. 3 with $9.9 million. After receiving eight nominations earlier in the week, Brokeback Mountain rose to fourth place in its ninth weekend as it took in $5.7 million. Despite expanding into 2,089 from 1,654, business for the film was down some 16 percent. Analysts had indicated that while straight males may have been persuaded to see the film because of the strong reviews and awards it received, it was unlikely that it would be the sort of fare they'd seek out on Super Bowl weekend. Meanwhile, Steven Spielberg's Munich continued to perform better abroad than at home, leading the overseas box office for the second weekend in a row with $13.3 million. It grossed $1.5 million domestically, despite receiving five Oscar nominations, including best film.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations:
1. When a Stranger Calls, $22 million; 2. Big Momma's House 2, $13.35 million; 3. Nanny McPhee, $9.9 million; 4. Brokeback Mountain, $5.7 million; 5. Hoodwinked, $5.3 million; 6. Underworld: Evolution, $5.1 million; 7. Something New, $5 million; 8. Annapolis, $3.5 million; 9. Walk the Line, $3.4 million; 10. Glory Road, $3 million.

06/02/2006