‘Batman’ Soars Above $200 Million

Warners’ “Batman” became only the 10th motion picture in history to gross more than $200 million after earning $8.9 million over the weekend. The caped crusader reached the $202.9-million mark in six weeks, faster than any other super-blockbuster. Tom Hank’s canine co-star in Touchstone’s comedy “Turner and Hooch” slobbered and drooled on 1,877 screens for a weekend opening of $12.2 million and a per-screen average of $6,506. With Paramount’s “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan,” the hockey-masked terrorist also took a meaty chunk of the box office with him--$6.2 million on 1,683 screens.

* Despite critical praise, Babar was one disappointed pachyderm following the opening of “Babar: The Movie.” Against stiff summer competition, the animated film hauled in only $397,153 on 510 screens, an average of $778 per screen.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1.”Turner and Hooch” $12.2 1,877 1 (Touchstone/Disney) $12.2 $6,506 2.”Lethal Weapon 2” $10.4 1,830 4 (Warner Bros.) $88.8 $5,684 3.”Batman” $8.9 2,201 6 (Warner Bros.) $202.9 $4,068 4.”When Harry Met Sally . . .” $7.9 872 3 (Columbia) $24.4 $9,013 5.”Friday the 13th Part VIII” $6.2 1,683 1 (Paramount) $6.2 $3,714 *”Babar: The Movie” $397,153 510 1 (New Line) $397,153 $778

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.