‘Volcano’ Blasts Into Top Spot With $14.7 Million

“Volcano” dumped “Anaconda” from its No. 1 perch at the box office but failed to generate the heat of its earlier rival, “Dante’s Peak.”

The disaster film about a volcano erupting in Los Angeles had $14.7 million in ticket sales in its debut, according to industry estimates Sunday.

“Dante’s Peak,” about an erupting volcano that destroys a small town, beat it to the screen by two months and took in $18.6 million for the best February opening ever.

“Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” an exuberant comedy starring Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow as two losers faking success at their 10-year reunion, debuted in second place, with $7.6 million.

“Anaconda,” about murderous snakes in the Amazon, was third, with $7.3 million, according to Exhibitor Relations Inc. It had been No. 1 two weeks in a row.

“Liar Liar,” in fourth place, is the highest-grossing film of the year. The Jim Carrey comedy earned $6.8 million for the weekend for a total of $143.5 million over six weeks.

In fifth place was “The Saint” with a $5-million gross, followed by “Murder at 1600.” The Wesley Snipes thriller about murder at the White House earned $4.7 million.

The hit-man comedy “Grosse Pointe Blank” earned $3 million, followed by “Scream,” with $1.4 million.

“The Devil’s Own” was in ninth place, with $1.2 million, while “Chasing Amy” and “That Old Feeling” tied for 10th place, with $1.1 million each.

In limited release, “All Over Me” opened with $27,000 from five theaters. The coming-of-age drama focuses on two girls in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen.

Final weekend box-office figures are to be released today.