WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Somehow, amid the cinematic welter of late-summer movies that seemed to hit the theaters by the dozen last weekend, several films distinguished themselves at the box office. New World Pictures’ “Hellraiser,” a rather grisly horror show directed by British terror writer Clive Barker, aroused some blood lust. And star packaging--such as Molly Ringwald in “The Pick-Up Artist” and Michael Douglas and Glenn Close in “Fatal Attraction”--helped to persuade moviegoers confused over just which movie they should go see. Overall business continued brisk, illustrating that the mix of films in the theaters--however generous--is intriguing enough to get potential audiences away from the TV set.

* Novelist-screenwriter-journalist-director Norman Mailer’s return to the screen--which also boasted acting talent like Ryan O’Neal and Isabella Rossellini--was received with great puzzlement by audiences (and some critics) across the country. Wildly divergent reviews from influential critics have effectively negated all the interviews Mailer did for the picture’s publicity.

Figures courtesy of Exhibitor Relations Co.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Weekend Screens/ Weeks Movie gross/ Average in (Studio) Total release (millions) 1. Fatal Attraction $7.6 758 1 (Paramount) $7.6 $10,030 2. The Principal $4.7 1,196 1 (Tri-Star) $4.7 $3,928 3. Hellraiser $4.6 1,097 1 (New World) $4.6 $4,241 4. The Pick-Up Artist $4.5 1,129 1 (20th Century Fox) $4.5 $3,946 5. Stakeout $3.3 1,331 6 (Buena Vista) $50.6 $2,504 * Tough Guys Don’t Dance $0.42 360 1 (Cannon) $0.42 $1,169