Wide-Range Audience Roots for ‘Titans’

Touchstone Pictures’ “Remember the Titans” starring Denzel Washington topped the weekend box office, grossing $20.9 million--the seventh film starring African American actors to debut in first place this year.

Chuck Viane, president of Buena Vista Distribution, said “Remember the Titans” crossed every spectrum of the audience, drawing 30% teens, 55% men versus 45% women, and on Saturday night “the audience makeup was 50% couples.”

Viane noted that Disney plans to increase the number of screens this week from 1,865 to around 2,500. Meanwhile, “Almost Famous” was something of a disappointment in its first weekend of wide release, pulling in $5.6 million and finishing behind the re-release of “The Exorcist.”

“Beautiful” opened in 10th place with $1.41 million, while “Best in Show,” “Girlfight” and “Barenaked in America” all opened in limited release.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Remember the Titans” $20.9 1,865 1 (Disney/Touchstone) $20.9 $11,210 2. “The Exorcist”* $7.2 1,150 2 (Warner Bros.) $17.7 $6,266 3. “Almost Famous” $5.6 1,635 3 (DreamWorks) $17.8 $3,407 4. “Urban Legends: Final Cut” $4.4 2,539 2 (Sony/TriStar) $14.7 $1,735 5. “Bring It On” $3.0 2,466 6 (Universal) $59.7 $1,220 6. “The Watcher” $2.3 2,636 4 (Universal) $26.0 $865 7. “Nurse Betty” $2.1 1,489 4 (USA Films) $21.0 $1,392 8. “Bait” $1.7 2,010 3 (Warner Bros.) $13.2 $862 9. “What Lies Beneath” $1.6 1,674 11 (DreamWorks) $150.6 $983 10.”Beautiful” $1.41 646 1 (Destination) $1.41 $2,182 “Best in Show”** $413,436 13 1 (Warner Bros.) $481,784 $31,803 “Girlfight” $197,896 28 1 (Sony/Screen Gems) $197,896 $7,068 “Barenaked in America” $27,714 16 1 (Shooting Gallery) $27,714 $1,732

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*--Reissue; **--Opened Wednesday

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.