Trio of Critic-Proof Movies in Top Spots

Proving that summer movies are virtually critic proof, the top three pictures over the past weekend remained the choice of audiences even though they received poor-to-mixed reviews.

“Gone in 60 Seconds” debuted with $25.3 million to win the weekly box-office race, followed by “Mission: Impossible 2” and “Big Momma’s House,” which landed in a virtual dead heat with about $17.2 million apiece.

“In the summer, more than any other time, it seems reviews don’t matter to audiences,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office tracking firm, Exhibitor Relations Inc. “They are looking for fun. Nobody is expecting Shakespeare.”

“Sunshine,” “American Pimp” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost” were among the films opening in limited release.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Gone in 60 Seconds” $25.3 3,006 1 (Disney/Touchstone) $25.3 $8,428 2. “Mission: Impossible 2” $17.23 3,669 3 (Paramount) $158.1 $4,696 3. “Big Momma’s House” $17.22 2,854 2 (Fox) $52.4 $6,035 4. “Dinosaur” $8.8 3,275 4 (Disney) $110.5 $2,696 5. “Gladiator” $7.1 2,706 6 (DreamWorks) $150.2 $2,614 6. “Shanghai Noon” $5.9 2,751 3 (Disney/Touchstone) $41.6 $2,160 7. “Road Trip” $4.9 2,586 4 (DreamWorks) $54.2 $1,898 8. “Frequency” $1.5 1,219 7 (New Line) $40.1 $1,191 9. “Small Time Crooks” $1.4 886 4 (DreamWorks) $13.2 $1,553 10. “U-571” $1.1 1,172 8 (Universal) $72.9 $905 “Sunshine” $84,869 7 1 (Paramount Classics) $84,869 $12,124 “American Pimp” $28,699 5 1 (7th Art) $28,699 $5,740 “Love’s Labour’s Lost” $24,496 2 1 (Miramax) $24,496 $12,248

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.