Weekend Box Office : ‘Stargate’ a Back-to-Back Champ

MGM’s surprise autumn hit “Stargate” won the box-office sweepstakes for the second weekend in a row, capitalizing on good word-of-mouth, a PG-13 rating that pulled in youngsters and a strong allegiance among science-fiction fans who communicate their support over the Internet global computer network. Laden with special effects, “Stargate” pulled in $12.4 million from Friday through Sunday. The film also capitalized on the appeal of Kurt Russell, who has built a following among the sci-fi community since his 1981 film “Escape From New York,” and the presence of James Spader, playing a role unlike those he has played in the past.

TriStar’s “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” starring Kenneth Branagh and Robert De Niro, had to overcome mixed reviews and an R-rating to take in $11.2 million and wind up in second place. Far behind in third place was “The War,” starring Elijah Wood and Kevin Costner, which grossed $5.2 million. Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures’ remarkable film, “Forrest Gump,” remained in the top 10 for the 18th week, coming in ninth place with about $2 million for the weekend.

Weekend Box Office

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Stargate” $12.4 2,033 2 (MGM) $34.5 $6,084 2. “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” $11.2 2,177 1 (TriStar) $11.2 $5,151 3. “The War” $5.2 1,155 1 (Universal) $5.2 $4,505 4. “Pulp Fiction” $5.1 1,494 4 (Miramax) $38.1 $3,442 5. “The Specialist” $3.2 2,033 5 (Warner Bros.) $48.1 $1,552 6. “Love Affair” $2.4 1,432 3 (Warner Bros.) $14.4 $1,661 7. “The River Wild” $2.2 1,562 6 (Universal) $39.7 $1,380 8. “Little Giants” $2.1 1,706 4 (Warner Bros.) $15.5 $1,238 9. “Forrest Gump” $2.0 1,343 18 (Paramount) $288.9 $1,472 10. “The Road to Wellville” $1.5 806 2 (Columbia) $4.9 $1,875

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.