A Week for ‘Special’ Editions

The “Special Edition” of “The Empire Strikes Back” was the box-office champ for the second straight week with a take of $13.1 million. The reissue of the 1980 sci-fi classic has grossed $40.2 million in 10 days. The film’s 17-year domestic cumulative gross is $263 million--the ninth highest of all time.

Nipping at the heels of “Empire” was the Al Pacino-Johnny Depp mobster movie, “Donnie Brasco,” which placed second with a gross of $11.7 million. “Brasco” was one of four Sony releases to place in the Top 10.

The “Special Edition” of “Star Wars” took in $6.9 million in its fifth week of re-release for a total domestic cumulative gross of $448 million. “Star Wars” has made $125.1 million this year to date.

The other new entry, “Booty Call,” which opened on Wednesday, placed fourth with a total gross of $8 million.

* “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” a mystery thriller starring Julia Ormand and Gabriel Byrne, took in $107,108 on eight screens.

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Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1.”The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition” $13.1 2,112 2 (Fox) $263.0 $6,224 2.”Donnie Brasco” $11.7 1,503 1 (Sony/TriStar) $11.7 $7,758 3.”Star Wars: Special Edition” $6.9 2,375 5 (Fox) $448.0 $2,887 4.”Booty Call” $6.4 1,272 1 (Sony/Columbia) $8.0 $5,055 5.”Absolute Power” $5.7 2,568 3 (Sony/Columbia) $36.9 $2,231 6.”Dante’s Peak” $5.3 2,751 4 (Universal) $52.3 $1,915 7.”Vegas Vacation” $4.6 2,070 3 (Warner Bros.) $27.3 $2, 202 8.”Fools Rush In” $3.6 1,701 3 (Sony/Columbia) $21.4 $2,118 9 “Marvin’s Room” $3.3 1,153 11 (Miramax) $5.4 $2,819 10.”Rosewood” $2.9 991 2 (Warner Bros.) $7.2 $2,936 * “Smilla’s Sense of Snow” $107,108 8 1 (Fox Searchlight) $107,108 $13,389

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.