Hollywood Has a Memorable Memorial

With Tom Cruise and “M:I-2” leading the pack with $70.8 million, Hollywood enjoyed its biggest Memorial Day holiday weekend ever with all films in release projected to take in close to $190 million for the four-day period.

“M:I-2” had the second biggest Memorial Day opening ever behind “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” ($90.2 million).

“Dinosaur” pulled in $32 million; “Shanghai Noon” debuted with $19.6 million; “Gladiator,” now in its fourth week, grossed $17.1 million; and the raunchy youth comedy “Road Show” came in fifth with $13.5 million.

“I have never seen a top five this strong for a Memorial Day weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Co.

Among films debuting in limited release were “Passion of Mind” ($236,048) and “Better Living Through Circuitry” ($24,970).

Weekend Box Office

*--*

Four-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “M:I-2” * $70.8 3,653 1 (Paramount) $91.8 $19,386 2. “Dinosaur” $32.0 3,302 2 (Disney) $80.4 $9,703 3. “Shanghai Noon” $19.6 2,711 1 (Disney/Touchstone) $19.6 $7,247 4. “Gladiator” $17.1 3,188 4 (DreamWorks) $127.0 $7,247 5. “Road Trip” $13.5 2,631 2 (DreamWorks) $35.3 $5,138 6. “Small Time Crooks” $3.9 870 2 (DreamWorks) $8.9 $4,480 7. “Frequency” $3.6 1,803 5 (New Line) $35.1 $2,006 8. “U-571” $3.3 2,044 6 (Universal) $69.0 $1,595 9. “Center Stage” $2.7 1,506 3 (Sony/Columbia) $12.8 $1,775 10. “Where the Heart Is” $1.9 1,368 5 (Fox) $28.5 $1,425 “Passion of Mind” $236,048 104 1 (Paramount Classics) $236,048 $2,261 “Better Living Through Circuitry” $24,970 4 1 (7th Art) $24,970 $6,243

*--*

* Opened Wednesday

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.