British Import ‘Bean’ Sprouts in U.S.

“Starship Troopers,” the sci-fi action film about a futuristic war pitting humans against giant bugs, handily won the weekend box-office race, but it was the successful invasion of the British slapstick comedy “Bean” that caught Hollywood’s attention.

“Bean” has already grossed $140 million in foreign markets since opening in June in Australia, but Gramercy Pictures felt it would be more difficult opening the film in the U.S. because Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) is not as widely known in America. (Figures above are totals for U.S. and Canada; the film opened in Canada four weeks ago.) Because of its physical humor, Gramercy originally targeted younger boys as its main audience, but younger girls also became interested in seeing the film as its U.S. debut neared, according to Gramercy President Russell Schwartz.

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Four-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Starship Troopers” $22.1 2,971 1 (Sony/TriStar) $22.1 $7,425 2. “Bean” $12.7 1,948 4 (Gramercy) $19.7 $6,537 3. “I Know What You Did Last Summer” $6.5 2,524 4 (Sony/Columbia) $54.2 $2,580 4. “Devil’s Advocate” $5.1 2,207 4 (Warner Bros.) $45.0 $2,301 5. “Red Corner” $4.9 2,507 2 (MGM/UA) $14.7 $1,957 6. “Mad City” $4.6 2,194 1 (Warner Bros.) $4.6 $2,119 7. “Boogie Nights” $3.9 951 5 (New Line) $14.6 $4,144 8. “Eve’s Bayou” $3.3 659 1 (Trimark) $3.3 $4,989 9. “Kiss the Girls” $2.5 2,011 6 (Paramount) $55.0 $1,251 10. “Fairy Tale: A True Story” $2.1 1,286 3 (Paramount) $10.0 $1,664

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.