It’s ‘Payback’ Time in Theaters for Those Tired of Teen Flicks

Action fans got a bellyful of lead over the weekend as “Payback,” starring Mel Gibson, debuted to an estimated $21.4 million and Tom Hanks and his troops returned in “Saving Private Ryan” to gross another $3.6 million on 1,027 screens.

“Simply Irresistible,” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, however, proved to be one teen film too many. It was simply unable to compete with last week’s arrival, “She’s All That,” and the recent “Varsity Blues.” “Irresistible” proved to be anything but, debuting to a weak $2.3 million on 1,359 screens, almost outflanked by the quirky Wes Anderson comedy “Rushmore,” which--on only 103 screens--almost made it into the top 10 with about $1.85 million, a potent $18,000 per theater.

“Payback” was just the big, high-profile commercial film the box office was lacking and cleaned up with almost $8,000 a theater on 2,720 screens. Weekend grosses have been lagging behind last year at this time when “Titanic” ruled the waves. But in selling about one of every three tickets, “Payback” helped bring the weekend totals for the top 12 films up to about $63 million, less than 8% behind last year’s pace.

Last week’s No. 1 film, “She’s All That,” slid to second place with a modest 25% drop (aided by almost

400 new screens) to $12 million on 2,620 screens. With a 10-day total of more than $31 million, it looks to be as big a hit as fourth-place “Varsity Blues,” which lost some of the air in its pigskin with an estimated $4 million on 2,364 screens and a monthlong total of not quite $45 million.

Many of the films in the top 10 are showing signs of exhaustion, but not “Patch Adams,” which came in third with a projected $4.5 million on 2,725 screens, bolstered by Saturday sneaks for “October Sky,” which Universal reports were 80% full and snagged very positive reactions. The Robin Williams weepy comedy is now approaching the $125-million mark.

Even more impressive is the hold of “Shakespeare in Love” with an estimated $3.6 million on only 833 screens, just 11% off last week for more than $36 million since its limited opening in early December. “A Civil Action” is headed due south, though, with $3.2 million estimated over the weekend on 2,031 screens, and about $52 million to date.

“Stepmom” still has its fans among older women, bringing in $2.6 million in its seventh week. The Julia Roberts-Susan Sarandon drama now has its sights set on $90 million, a mark it should reach next weekend. “You’ve Got Mail” slowed to $2.3 million over the weekend on 2,016 screens, with $110 million already in its pouch.

The coming Presidents Day holiday should give a boost to such likely Oscar nominees as “Private Ryan” and “Shakespeare.” (Nominations will be announced Tuesday.) “Ryan” is heading past $200 million and before it’s through should overtake “Armageddon” as the top-grossing film of 1998. Joining the weekend fray are “My Favorite Martian”; yet another teen title, “Blast From the Past”; and the Kevin Costner romancer “Message in a Bottle.”