Weekend Box Office : ‘Basic Instinct’ Still the Pick

The erotic, ice-pick-killer yarn “Basic Instinct” continued to do potent business at the nation’s theaters, racking up another $5.4 million during the weekend, for a total of $78 million in six weeks. The only new release to break into the Top 10 was Warner Bros.’ thriller “White Sands,” but it did only so-so business. Other new films failed to make a dent. “Passed Away” from Disney’s Hollywood Pictures division grossed a morbid $1.5 million and Columbia’s “The Year of the Comet” generated a dim $1.3 million.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Basic Instinct” $5.4 1,866 6 (TriStar) $78 $2,870 2. “Beethoven” $5 1,938 4 (Universal) $32 $2,595 3. “White Men Can’t Jump” $4.5 1,835 5 (Fox) $54.8 $2,448 4. “White Sands” $3.151 1,275 1 (Warner Bros.) $3.151 $2,472 5. “Sleepwalkers” $3.150 1,853 3 (Columbia) $22.8 $1,700 6. “The Babe” $3.01 1,568 2 (Universal) $9.7 $1,920 7. “FernGully” $2.8 1,568 3 (Fox) $13.3 $1,794 8. “Deep Cover” $2.4 901 2 (New Line) $8 $2,685 9. “Wayne’s World” $2.3 1,402 11 (Paramount) $106.4 $1,660 10. “City of Joy” $2.2 884 2 (TriStar) $7 $2,495 * “The Player” $1.5 172 3 (Studio) $2.4 $8,652

* Robert Altman’s “The Player” did healthy per-screen business of $8,652 in limited release. Also of note, the anti-war drama “A Midnight Clear” drew about $6,713 per screen in seven theaters.

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.