‘City of Angels’ Romances Filmgoers to Remain No. 1

Romance is in.

That apparently was the word from moviegoers who made the supernatural love story “City of Angels” the top-grossing film at the box office for a second weekend, according to industry estimates Sunday.

“It kind of has replaced ‘Titanic’ as the romantic picture for a female audience. The chemistry obviously is good,” said Art Rockwell, an analyst with Rockwell Capital Management. “I was surprised . . . but obviously romantic stories are in.”

“City of Angels,” which grossed an estimated $13.2 million, stars Nicolas Cage as an angel who must choose between immortality or human life when he falls in love with a heart surgeon, played by Meg Ryan. The film, which dropped off only slightly from its $15.4-million opening weekend, held off a challenge from another love story, “The Object of My Affection,” starring Jennifer Aniston as a pregnant woman in love with a gay man.

“The Object of My Affection,” which was poorly received by many critics, grossed an estimated $10 million in its first week of release, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

“Lost in Space,” based on the 1960s television series, dropped to No. 3 with $7.7 million, followed by “Titanic,” which grossed $7.3 million in its 18th week.

“Paulie,” a children’s story about a talking bird, opened in fifth place with $5.5 million, followed by “Species II” with $3.9 million and “Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple II” with $3.7 million.

The Bruce Willis thriller “Mercury Rising” fell to No. 8, tying with “The Players Club” at $3.6 million each.

“The Players Club,” directed by rapper-actor Ice Cube, pulled in the highest per-screen average of any top 10 film at $6,071. It played on 593 screens.

The only other new film in the top 10 was “Major League: Back to the Minors,” another sequel in the baseball comedy series, starring Corbin Bernsen and Scott Bakula. It earned $2.1 million.

Final figures are to be released today.