Shakespeare Ambushes Marketplace

“William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet,” director Baz Luhrmann’s ‘90s vision of the classic romance, captured first place at the box office with $11.1 million in ticket sales. Tom Sherak, 20th Century Fox’s distribution chief, said 65% of the film’s audience was age 25 and under. “The power of youth,” Sherak said.

Sherak said Fox will expand the movie by 400 theaters this week going into the Veterans Day holiday. Sources say the $16-million film could reach $50 million at the domestic box office.

Meanwhile, two other films making their debut on more screens failed to reach double digits: “Larger Than Life,” starring Bill Murray, pulled in $5 million, while “Dear God,” starring Greg Kinnear, grossed $3.2 million.

*--*

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average 1. “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet” $11.1 1,276 (Fox) $11.1 $8,725 2. “Sleepers” $8 2,080 (Warner Bros.) $37.6 $3,865 3. “High School High” $5 2,146 (Sony/TriStar) $12.6 $2,334 4. “Larger Than Life” $3.8 2,433 (United Artists) $3.8 $1,553 5. “The Ghost and the Darkness” $3.7 2,038 (Paramount) $31.8 $1,796 6. “Stephen King’s Thinner” $3.58 2,009 (Paramount) $10.9 $1,783 7. “The First Wives Club” $3.56 2,051 (Paramount) $93.7 $1,737 8. “Dear God” $3.2 1,754 (Paramount) $3.2 $1,832 9. “The Associate” $3.1 1,781 (Disney/Hollywood) $8.7 $1,751 10. “Long Kiss Goodnight” $2.4 1,684 (New Line) $28.9 $1,412

Weeks in Movie (Studio) Release 1. “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet” 1 (Fox) 2. “Sleepers” 3 (Warner Bros.) 3. “High School High” 2 (Sony/TriStar) 4. “Larger Than Life” 1 (United Artists) 5. “The Ghost and the Darkness” 4 (Paramount) 6. “Stephen King’s Thinner” 2 (Paramount) 7. “The First Wives Club” 7 (Paramount) 8. “Dear God” 1 (Paramount) 9. “The Associate” 2 (Disney/Hollywood) 10. “Long Kiss Goodnight” 4 (New Line)

*--*

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.