‘Buck’ Still No. 1 After Quiet Labor Day

Labor Day weekend--summer’s final box-office fling--did not build up much steam as ticket sales continued their gradual downward swing, with the Top 10 films falling an average of almost 13%. With no major studio releases, Universal led the way for the third week in a row with its family duo of “Uncle Buck” ($7.8 million) and “Parenthood” ($7.5 million). Miramax’s “sex, lies and videotape” expanded from 94 to 347 screens and jumped to No. 8, grossing $3.4 million for a per-screen average of $9,847. The summer films will be challenged when the first of the fall offerings arrive Friday with Universal’s “Sea of Love” starring Al Pacino and Warner Bros.’ “In Country,” directed by Norman Jewison and co-starring Bruce Willis and Emily Lloyd.

* Paramount’s “Shirley Valentine”--despite being a hard-to-market English film starring an unknown actress--opened smashingly on only eight screens for $245,422. Although it received mixed reviews, the comedy starring Pauline Collins, who created the part on stage, grossed $30,678 per screen.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1.”Uncle Buck” $7.8 1,832 3 (Universal) $34.7 $4,270 2.”Parenthood” $7.5 1,390 5 (Universal) $64.1 $5,395 3.”The Abyss” $5.5 1,532 4 (20th Century Fox) $40.7 $3,611 4.”Lethal Weapon 2” $4.7 1,613 9 (Warner Bros.) $131.3 $2,889 5.”When Harry Met Sally ...” $4 1,152 8 (Columbia) $66.6 $3,429 *”Shirley Valentine” $245,422 8 1 (Paramount) $299,967 $30,678