‘Little Nicky’ Pales by Sandler Standards

There was no need for a recount over the weekend. “Charlie’s Angels” easily defeated “Little Nicky,” proving that although Adam Sandler remains popular, he is not indestructible, especially when faced with three high-kicking women--namely, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu.

“Charlie’s Angels,” a remake of the hit 1970s TV series, grossed $24.6 million in its second weekend in release and saw its overall two-week box office soar to $75 million.

“Little Nicky” grossed $16.1 million over the weekend, quite a comedown from previous Sandler openings. “Big Daddy” debuted at $41.5 million in June 1999, while “The Waterboy” opened to $39.4 million in November 1998. Even “The Wedding Singer” out-grossed “Little Nicky,” taking in $18.8 million on its first weekend in February 1998.

“Men of Honor,” starring Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr., opened in third place with a respectable $13.3 million return, while “Meet the Parents,” the Ben Stiller-De Niro comedy, came in fourth, but has already grossed $130 million in North America over the last six weeks.

The Val Kilmer sci-fi adventure “Red Planet” opened in fifth place with $8.7 million in ticket sales.

“You Can Count on Me” took in $118,170 in limited release. “Wonder Boys” was reissued by Paramount.

Weekend Box Office

*--*

Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Charlie’s Angels” $24.6 3,037 2 (Sony/Columbia) $75.0 $8,102 2. “Little Nicky” $16.1 2,910 1 (New Line) $16.1 $5,520 3. “Men of Honor” $13.3 2,092 1 (Fox) $13.3 $6,376 4. “Meet the Parents” $10.3 2,697 6 (Universal) $130.0 $3,835 5. “Red Planet” $8.7 2,703 1 (Warner Bros.) $8.7 $3,227 6. “Legend of Bagger Vance” $6.3 2,162 2 (DreamWorks) $20.9 $2,921 7. “Remember the Titans” $5.2 2,641 7 (Disney) $103.8 $1,962 8. “Pay It Forward” $3.0 2,005 4 (Warner Bros.) $29.4 $1,509 9. “Billy Elliot” $2.6 494 5 (Universal) $5.8 $5,270 10.”Bedazzled” $2.5 2,137 4 (Fox) $34.6 $1,175 “You Can Count on Me” $118,170 8 1 (Paramount Classics) $118,170 $14,771 “Wonder Boys” * $87,505 15 1 (Paramount) $18.8 $5,834

*--*

* Reissue.

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.