‘Titanic’ Is Tops at Box Office for a Record 14th Weekend

“Titanic” headed into today’s Academy Awards by posting a record-setting 14th weekend as the top box office draw, according to industry estimates Sunday.

The disaster epic beat the 13-week domestic record set by “Tootsie” in 1982 and “Beverly Hills Cop” in 1984.

The movie is up for a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations, including best picture. Its projected take of $17.3 million in North American ticket sales also trounced the debut of the John Travolta political comedy “Primary Colors,” which made $12.4 million, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

About the only thing “Titanic” failed to do--so far--was pass the $500 million mark. Its total domestic gross was put at $494.7 million.

Final figures will be released today.

Based on the bestseller of the same name, “Primary Colors” is the story of a philandering presidential candidate, echoing the scandal unfolding in Washington.

Exit surveys done by Universal showed that more than 50% of audience members said they were motivated to see the film because of current political events, Rocco said.

“The Man in the Iron Mask,” starring “Titanic” lead Leonardo DiCaprio, was No. 3 with $11.2 million in its second weekend.

“Wild Things” opened in the No. 4 spot with $9.6 million, followed by “U.S. Marshals” with $7.4 million.

Another new release, “Mr. Nice Guy,” had total sales of $5 million and the Oscar-nominated “Good Will Hunting” earned $3.9 million.

“The Wedding Singer” finished eighth with $3.4 million and another Oscar nominee, “As Good as It Gets,” came in ninth with $3.3 million. The Coen brothers’ “The Big Lebowski” rounded out the list at $1.8 million.