‘I Know What You Did’ Scares Up Big Box Office

The screamfest “I Know What You Did Last Summer” beat the devil at the weekend movie box office.

The Columbia Pictures thriller about four teens who are stalked after trying to cover up a hit-and-run accident had an estimated $16.1 million in ticket sales in its first week of release. Warner Bros.’ “The Devil’s Advocate,” starring Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves, opened at No. 2 with a gross of $12.2 million, according to estimates Sunday from Exhibitor Relations Co.

Another murder thriller, “Kiss the Girls,” starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, finished third after two weeks at the top. The Paramount Pictures release earned $7 million, for a total of $39.2 million in three weeks.

The slew of pre-Halloween thrillers geared toward a younger audience hurt “The Devil’s Advocate” despite its heavyweight cast, said Robert Bucksbaum of the industry newsletter Reel Source.

“We’re witnessing the awakening of the sleeping giant, the 15- to 22-year-old date-crowd market,” Bucksbaum said.

Columbia/TriStar’s “Seven Years in Tibet,” starring Brad Pitt, dropped to No. 4 in its second week, with $6.6 million. Another star vehicle failed to open in the Top 10: Touchstone’s “Playing God,” with David Duchovny of TV’s “The X-Files,” grossed $2 million.

The rest of the Top 10: Paramount’s “In & Out,” fifth, $3.9 million; 20th Century Fox’s “Soul Food,” $3.5 million; Disney’s “RocketMan,” $3 million; DreamWorks SKG’s “The Peacemaker,” $2.8 million; Warner Bros.’ “L.A. Confidential,” $2.7 million; and Gramercy’s “Bean,” in Canadian release only and due in the U.S. on Nov. 7, $2.3 million.

The final weekend box-office figures are to be released today.