WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : Paramount Leading Holiday Market

Paramount and Disney landed in a virtual tie when they battled for control of this year’s summer market. But it appears that Paramount will have an early lock on the Christmas market. “The Naked Gun,” a comedy created by the makers of “Airplane,” grossed $9.3 million at 1,576 theaters, an average of $5,921 per screen. Paramount’s “Scrooged” surprised skeptics by pulling in a strong $7.5 million during its second week in release, averaging $5,947 at 1,262 screens. In contrast, two Disney films--”Oliver & Company” and “Ernest Saves Christmas”--are sinking, and its next film, Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey in “Beaches,” doesn’t open until Dec. 23.

* Paramount’s attempt at a rock concert film, however, was a disappointment. “U2: Rattle and Hum” has grossed $8.5 million in four weeks of release. Over the weekend, the film grossed $108,000 at 190 theaters, for an average of $626 per screen.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1. “The Naked Gun” $9.3 1,576 1 (Paramount) $9.3 $5,921 2. “Scrooged” $7.5 1,262 2 (Paramount) $29.3 $5,947 3. “Tequila Sunrise” $6.4 1,115 1 (Warner Bros.) $6.4 $5,695 4. “The Land Before Time” $3.5 1,403 3 (Universal) $23.1 $2,520 5. “Oliver & Company” $3.1 952 3 (Disney) $16.0 $3,257 * “U2: Rattle and Hum” $.108 190 4 (Paramount) $8.5 $626