Loud and Clear Win for "Scream 3"

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Loud and Clear Win for "Scream 3"

Thu., Jan. 6, 2000 1:40 PM PST by Bridget Byrne

As anticipated, Scream 3 roared to victory.

The third and (purportedly) final chapter of Wes Craven's horror trilogy earned an estimated $35.2 million this weekend, on its way to a record-breaking triple.

It was the biggest February opening ever, the biggest opening ever for distributor Miramax and the biggest horror film opening ever.

Undoubtedly aided by its blitzkrieg booking in a record 3,467 theaters nationwide at a slow season of the year, but also helped by fan loyalty and generally favorable reviews, the humorous slasher flick had a per screen average of $10,153, resulting in a bigger gross than the rest of the Top 10 films combined.

(The only higher per screen average was for the update of the classic Disney cartoon Fantasia/2000 which earned $31,481 at each of its selected 54 IMAX sites.)

However, Scream 3, again starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox Arquette and hubby David, didn't do quite as much business per screen as Scream 2, which in 3,112 theaters debuted with $32.9 million in December '97. That sequel far surpassed the $6.3 million debut on the original Scream in just 1,413 theaters in December '96.

But both those films grossed over $100 million (the original, $103 million, the sequel, $101 million), so whatever the financial details the overwhelming fact is that audiences just love to hear those screaming (and bleeding) teens, and even if the Scream team is now going to call it a day, the genre with undoubtedly prevail.

Lost in the echo was Buena Vista's Gun Shy. Another Mob comedy, which earned poor reviews for the unlikely pairing of Liam Neeson and Sandra Bullock, the movie didn't crack the Top 10, only earning $700,000 at a limited 296 locations, which may not be enough to prompt wider release.

Also registering fairly mute was Simpatico, a caper based on a Sam Shepard play starring Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone. It earned $500,000 in 283 theaters.

Here's the weekend's Top 10, according to estimates by Exhibitor Relations:

1. Scream 3, $35.2 million
2. The Hurricane, $4.9 million
3. Stuart Little, $4.8 million
4. Next Friday, $4.3 million
5. Eye of the Beholder, $4.04 million
6. The Green Mile, $4 million
7. Galaxy Quest, $3.3 million
8. Down to You, $2.9 million
9. Girl, Interrupted, $2.6 million
10. The Talented Mr. Ripley, $2.5 million