WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : ‘Roses’ Burns ‘She-Devil’ in Opening Bout

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner shoved aside Meryl Streep and Roseanne Barr in the box office, as Fox’s black comedy “The War of the Roses” opened with $9.7 million, compared to $3.5 million for the debut of Orion’s “She-Devil.” Both films feature big-name celebrities in marital battles, but in per-screen averages, the final count was: Douglas-Turner $7,696, Streep-Barr $2,502. Warner Bros.’ holiday spoof “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” finished a close second to “War of the Roses” with $9.5 million. Universal’s “Back to the Future Part II” continued to plunge since its record-breaking Thanksgiving opening, falling 42% in the box office over its third weekend.

* Transworld’s “Triumph of the Spirit,” a dramatic look at Auschwitz through the eyes of an interred Jewish boxer, opened with $26,167 on two screens in Los Angeles and New York.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1.”War of the Roses” $9.7 1,259 1 (Fox) $9.7 $7,696 2.”Christmas Vacation” $9.5 1,744 2 (Warner Bros.) $9.5 $5,447 3.”Back to the Future Part II” $7 1,986 3 (Universal) $69.5 $3,530 4.”She-Devil” $3.5 1,403 1 (Orion) $3.5 $2,502 5.”Steel Magnolias” $3 1,032 4 (Tri-Star) $27.5 $2,928 *”Triumph of the Spirit” $26,167 2 1 (Transworld) $26,167 $13,083

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.