‘Tourist’ Success Is No Accident

It’s rare for a studio to introduce a film into hundreds of theaters nationwide in the wake of the holidays, when students are back in school and adults back at work. But Warners did just that with “Accidental Tourist”--and the strategy paid off. With little competition from new film openings, “Accidental Tourist,” directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring William Hurt, Kathleen Turner and Geena Davis, placed third for the weekend. The film, which initially played in only a handful of theaters, grossed $6.1 million when it moved to 863 theaters, an average of $7,090 per screen. But “Accidental Tourist” faces stiffer competition next weekend, when a dozen other films will be released nationwide in order to take advantage of the holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King.

* MGM/UA’s “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka,” written and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, grossed $342,665 at 127 screens, an average of $2,698 per screen. The film opens in 40 more cities, including New York, next weekend.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1. “Rain Man” $9.2 1,256 4 (MGM/UA) $55.2 $7,361 2. “Twins” $7.0 1,628 5 (Universal) $64.7 $4,350 3. “Accidental Tourist” $6.1 863 3 (Warner) $6.5 $7,090 4. “Working Girl” $5.0 1,062 3 (Fox) $23.5 $4,719 5. “Naked Gun” $4.7 1,939 6 (Paramount) $54.2 $2,442 * “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka” .342 127 4 (MGM/UA) $2.8 $2,698

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.