WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : Kitten Takes On Baby Brontosaurus

A homeless kitten and a baby Brontosaurus battled for the affection of young movie-goers over the weekend, and the dinosaur won. Universal’s “The Land Before Time,” took the No. 1 spot, grossing $7.5 million at 1,395 screens. Dinosaurs weren’t the only heavy-weights in this film: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are executive producers; Don Bluth (“An American Tail”) directed. Disney’s “Oliver & Company” ranked fourth, grossing $4 million on 952 screens. The films were closer on a per-screen basis--$5,395 for “Land” and $4,226 for “Oliver.”

* Weintraub Entertainment’s first production, the much talked about “Fresh Horses” starring Molly Ringwald, opened with mediocre results--$3 million at 1,272 theaters--$2,416 per screen.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1. “The Land Before Time” $7.5 1,395 1 (Universal) $7.5 $5,395 2. “Child’s Play” $5.2 1,386 2 (MGM/UA) $14.8 $3,754 3. “Ernest Saves Christmas” $4.8 1,640 2 (Disney) $11.6 $2,952 4. “Oliver and Company” $4.0 952 1 (Disney) $4.0 $4,226 5. “High Spirits” $3.3 825 1 (Tri-Star) $3.3 $4,010 * “Fresh Horses” $3.1 1,272 1 (Weintraub Entertainment) $3.1 $2,416