‘Uncle Buck’ Conquers ‘War’

“Casualties of War,” Columbia chief Dawn Steel’s pet project, is not off to an auspicious start. Despite some rave reviews, the Vietnam drama, starring Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn, opened to ticket sales of only $5.2 million, while playing on 1,487 screens. Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox’s big summer risk, “The Abyss,” fell 23% in its second week to gross $7.2 million on 1,538 screens. Both films were beaten by a pair of Universal family films. The John Hughes comedy “Uncle Buck,” starring John Candy as an unwelcomed babysitter, opened on 1,804 screens for a surprising $8.8 million. After two weeks in the No. 1 spot, Ron Howard’s “Parenthood” dropped 22%, grossing $7.6 million. Paramount’s Richard Dreyfuss comedy “Let It Ride,” by first-time film director Joe Pytka, fell flat, grossing $1.9 million on 1,191 screens.

* Due to heavy studio competition for screen space (five studio films opened this weekend), the independent Scotti Bros.’ “Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!” opened regionally on 402 screens, instead of the anticipated 500. The rock-and-roll sequel, starring Michael Pare, played to small theater crowds for $986,508, a per-screen average of $2,454.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1.”Uncle Buck” $8.8 1,804 1 (Universal) $8.8 $4,875 2.”Parenthood” $7.6 1,316 3 (Universal) $43.3 $5,780 3.”The Abyss” $7.2 1,538 2 (20th Century Fox) $24.7 $4,690 4.”Casualties of War” $5.2 1,487 1 (Columbia) $5.2 $3,498 5.”When Harry Met Sally...” $4.9 1,144 6 (Columbia) $54 $4,281 *”Eddie and the Cruisers II” $986,508 402 1 (Scotti Bros.) $986,508 $2,454

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.