‘Titanic’ Steams Into 7th on All-Time List

“Titanic,” which topped the movie box office for a seventh weekend, toppled one alien epic and closed in on another as it elbowed its way up the ranks of all-time top-grossing films, according to industry estimates Sunday.

The sinking-ship romance, a joint presentation of Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox, had about $26 million in ticket sales, up 2% from last week. It now has grossed $308.2 million domestically, beating out “Independence Day” for the No. 7 slot on the all-time list, according to Exhibitor Relations Co.

Some analysts said “Titanic” could threaten heavyweights such as the No. 2 film, “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” at $399.8 million, and all-time leader “Star Wars,” at $461 million.

It took writer-director James Cameron’s film only 44 days to break the $300-million mark, compared to 67 days for Steven Spielberg’s 1993 “Jurassic Park.”

Parmount spokesman Blaise Noto attributed continuing interest in the film to repeat business, mostly from women, and to new viewers brought in by good word of mouth.

“Someone was telling me this is an effects movie with a story,” Noto said. “I said no. The story is driving the effects rather than the other way around.”

Opening at No. 2 was Fox’s “Great Expectations,” starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow in a loose retelling of the Charles Dickens story. It grossed $9.9 million.

Two other new films also made the Top 10: Sony/TriStar Pictures’ “Desperate Measures,” a poorly reviewed thriller about a serial killer played by Michael Keaton, had $5.8 million for the No. 6 slot, and Hollywood Pictures’ “Deep Rising,” a grisly sci-fi drama about a cruise ship terrorized by a monster, was eighth with $4.6 million.

Miramax Films’ “Good Will Hunting” took in $8.5 million for the No. 3 spot, edging out Sony/Columbia’s “Spice Girls,” at $7 million.

Other films in the Top 10 were Sony/TriStar’s “As Good as It Gets,” $6.6 million; New Line Cinema’s “Wag the Dog,” $5 million; Warner Bros.’ “Fallen,” $2.7 million; and Paramount’s “Hard Rain,” $2.7 million.

All weekend results are estimates. Final figures are to be released today.