‘Sixth Sense’ Has Knack for No. 1

“The Sixth Sense” continues to cast a spell over U.S. moviegoers. Released under Disney’s Hollywood Pictures banner, the supernatural-psychological thriller, starring Bruce Willis, has now topped the box-office chart for the third consecutive week. Over the weekend, it brought in $24 million to push its total to $107.5 million.

Meanwhile, the Warner Bros. mob-themed comedy “Mickey Blue Eyes,” starring Hugh Grant and James Caan, was the highest-grossing new film. It debuted with $10.2 million to place third behind Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin in Universal’s comedy “Bowfinger,” which grossed $10.6 million in its second weekend.

Two other new films crashed and burned on takeoff. Sony’s “Universal Soldier: The Return,” starring action-star Jean-Claude Van Damme, opened to $4.6 million, while Dimension Films’ high school thriller “Teaching Mrs. Tingle” barely made the grade, grossing only $3.3 million to finish in 10th place.

Artisan Entertainment’s “The Blair Witch Project,” initially produced on a budget of $35,000, has now taken in $120.6 million in six weeks.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1.”The Sixth Sense” $24.0 2,688 3 (Disney/Hollywood) $107.5 $8,910 2.”Bowfinger” $10.6 2,717 2 (Universal) $35.8 $3,905 3.”Mickey Blue Eyes” $10.2 2,573 1 (Warner Bros.) $10.2 $3,955 4.”Runaway Bride” $9.3 3,240 4 (Paramount) $113.5 $2,859 5.”The Blair Witch Project” $7.3 2,538 6 (Artisan) $120.6 $2,863 6.”The Thomas Crown Affair” $7.0 2,427 3 (MGM) $42.2 $2,887 7.”Universal Soldier: The Return” $4.6 1,639 1 (Sony) $4.6 $2,810 8.”Inspector Gadget” $4.3 2,144 5 (Disney) $83.2 $2,013 9.”Deep Blue Sea” $4.0 2,246 4 (Warner Bros.) $63.8 $1,772 10.”Teaching Mrs. Tingle” $3.3 1,710 1 (Dimension) $3.3 $1,946

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.