Going to the Dogs

The first of this year’s litter of dog movies enjoyed a fairly strong opening over the weekend. Universal’s “K-9,” starring James Belushi and, yes, a German Shepherd named Jerry Lee, grossed $7.5 million at 1,677 theaters, or $4,455 per screen. But moviegoers more partial to dead animals continued to keep the horror film “Pet Sematary” in the top spot, even though ticket sales dropped 31% from last week. Meanwhile, the season’s most talked-about movie, Universal’s “Field of Dreams,” continues to build strong word-of-mouth, garnering a per-screen average of $14,340 at 110 theaters.

* Sex and political intrigue proved a winning combination for “Scandal,” the film that barely escaped an X rating from the Motion Picture Assn. of America. The Miramax film, based on the Profumo sex scandal that rocked the British government in the ‘60s, grossed $630,000 at 94 theaters, a per-screen average of $6,702.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1.”Pet Sematary” $8.4 1,585 2 (Paramount) $24.4 $5,287 2.”K-9” $7.5 1,677 1 (Universal) $7.5 $4,455 3.”Major League” $4.1 1,615 4 (Paramount) $31.2 $2,555 4.”Criminal Law” $2.6 1,170 1 (Hemdale) $2.6 $2,253 5.”Dream Team” $2.3 1,365 4 (Universal) $19.1 $1,680 *”Scandal” $.630 94 1 (Miramax) $.630 $6,702

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.