Violence Fails to Slow ‘Boyz’ : Movies: Feature about gangs draws weekend crowds, even though a man is killed in Chicago and 33 hurt nationwide.

Despite scattered violence Friday at movie theaters around the nation showing “Boyz N the Hood,” a movie about three teen-agers growing up in South-Central Los Angeles, the film had a strong opening weekend at the box office.

As of Sunday, wire reports said that, nationwide, one man was killed in the Chicago area and at least 33 people were wounded in shootings, stabbings and other incidents in or near theaters showing the Columbia Pictures release.

Eight theaters out of more than 830, apparently fearful of a repeat of Friday’s violence, canceled showings of the film. In Los Angeles County, they included the Universal City Cineplex Odeon, Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and Mann theaters in Puente Hills and Upland.

On Saturday, the second day of the film’s run, no major incidents were reported.

Columbia said the film would end its first three days with an estimated gross of $9.3 million--a very strong opening by industry standards.

The reports of violence did not appear to affect the attendance at other summer movies. Ticket sales nationwide remained robust and typical of the summer season. Other films--including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” with an estimated $20 million in tickets; the reissue of Disney’s durable “101 Dalmatians,” $11 million, and the Patrick Swayze-Keanu Reeves film “Point Break,” $8.5 million--were not hurt by any spillover effect.

“Boyz,” directed by 23-year-old John Singleton, follows other films by African-American directors, such as Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever,” that have found broad audiences.

But one source close to the movie exhibition business, who declined to be identified, said incidents of violence scare theater owners and could discourage them from booking similar films.

“Who would want to play these films, not to mention what does this mean for moviegoing in general?” the source asked.

The release of “Boyz” had been greeted by fears that, like “Colors,” a movie about gangs, it would attract gang members.

“What did they expect?” asked Mike Salgado, president of Parents Against a Gang Environment, an Orange County gang counseling organization. “This film has a title that gangs recognize from a popular song and an L.A.-based rap artist (Ice Cube, in a leading role) who is known throughout the gang community. . . . Any time you have elements that attract this type of people, you get a reaction.”

The violence did not stop lines from forming at the black-owned Baldwin Hills Entertainment Complex on South La Brea Avenue, where all weekend screenings in the 422-seat theater were sold out and no violent outbreaks were reported.

“This speaks for itself,” said Mike Goodman, gesturing toward the people waiting in line with him. “People want to see it, because it’s a positive movie.”

Another moviegoer, Lashawnda Dunlap, said “Boyz” made her cry. “It shows what’s happening here in L.A. Everything was real. It shows there are still blacks who care for their own and are still good parents.”

Some said media reporting of the incidents was out of context.

“You got just what you wanted. (The media) takes away the enjoyment of going to a damn movie,” said a Baldwin Hills moviegoer who gave her name only as Elease. “This is life. I could walk up this street right now and get shot.”

Said an industry official, who requested anonymity:

“Last weekend, there were 17 drive-by shootings in Los Angeles. I think there’s no question that because (Friday’s violence) happened in white, upper-class areas that it became news.”