‘Rules of Engagement’ Takes Action Against Weekend Field

The military drama “Rules of Engagement” marched to the top of the weekend box office with a $15.3-million debut, bumping three-week leader “Erin Brockovich” into second place, according to industry estimates Sunday.

“Rules of Engagement” stars Samuel L. Jackson as a Marine colonel used as a scapegoat in the deaths of 80 civilians during a rescue mission at a U.S. embassy. Tommy Lee Jones plays his shaky, boozing defense attorney.

“It took a couple of really big boys to knock Julia Roberts out, and Jones and Jackson did it,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks movie ticket sales.

“Brockovich,” the Julia Roberts legal drama, grossed $10.1 million for a total take of $89.9 million.

“The Road to El Dorado,” last weekend’s No. 2 movie, dropped to third place with $8.9 million. The animated adventure, featuring the voices of Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh, grossed $25 million in 10 days.

The romantic comedy “Return to Me” debuted at No. 4 with $8 million. It stars David Duchovny as a widower romancing a woman (Minnie Driver) who received a heart transplant from his dead wife.

“Rules of Engagement” was the fourth of five recent Tommy Lee Jones movies to debut in the No. 1 spot. The others were “Men in Black,” “Volcano” and “Double Jeopardy.” The fifth, “U.S. Marshals,” opened in second place behind “Titanic” in March 1998.

Though “Rules of Engagement” has a military theme, women made up nearly half of the audience, said Wayne Lewellen, distribution president for Paramount, which released the picture.

“I think it was perceived as an intelligent movie and not just a pure action movie,” Lewellen said. “And the guys take the girls with them.”

Best picture Oscar winner “American Beauty” added to its booty, picking up $3.3 million to boost its overall gross to $121.6 million. The movie has added nearly $47 million since Oscar nominations came out in mid-February.

“East-West,” a French film that received an Oscar nomination for best foreign language picture, opened in five theaters in New York City and Los Angeles and grossed $58,251. It averaged an impressive $11,650 per theater, compared with $4,849 in 3,155 cinemas for “Rules of Engagement.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., with final figures to be released Monday:

1. “Rules of Engagement,” $15.3 million.

2. “Erin Brockovich,” $10.1 million.

3. “The Road to El Dorado,” $8.9 million.

4. “Return to Me,” $8 million.

5. “The Skulls,” $6.4 million.

6. “Ready to Rumble,” $5.6 million.

7. “Romeo Must Die,” $4.4 million.

8. “High Fidelity,” $4.2 million.

9. “Final Destination,” $3.9 million.

10. “American Beauty,” $3.3 million.