‘Traffic’ Revs Up, but Tom’s Still in the Driver’s Seat

The year officially got off to an extremely encouraging start with some of the more popular films in theaters drawing patrons like it was still the holidays. According to box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, the top 12 movies grossed an estimated $106 million for the first non-holiday January weekend, more than 30% ahead of last year and only 13% behind New Year’s weekend.

In addition to the continued powerhouse showing of “Cast Away” and “What Women Want,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Traffic,” a tough-minded ensemble drama about the drug wars, jammed 1,510 screens with a strong third-place estimate of $14.9 million--almost $10,000 a screen--all the more encouraging since “Traffic” is playing on half as many screens as the top two films.

As with first-place “Cast Away” and 10th-place “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Traffic” shows a healthy appetite among audiences for provocative fare. And it goes deeper than wide-release movies, with such specialty films as “Quills” and “Before Night Falls” performing consistently in big-city engagements. The national expansion for “Traffic” far outdid USA Films’ expectations, according to company President Russell Schwartz. And while the film’s subject matter seemed to appeal more to men than women, distribution chief Jack Foley says the audience was split right down the middle. Many urban runs were at capacity, and even in suburbia, “Traffic” was grossing at a level comparable to most studio commercial fare, doubling its business from Friday to Saturday in some cases with satisfaction levels indicating favorable word of mouth.

Meanwhile, Tom Hanks’ drama “Cast Away” zipped past $140 million in only its third weekend of release, $24.1 million of that predicted over the past weekend. The rapid-clip business of “Cast Away” is usually reserved for glitzy action and special effects films. The enormous popularity of Hanks’ virtual solo act, a serious drama that is largely silent for the better part of an hour, is testament to the actor’s virtually unparalleled drawing power with the public.

Running in place right behind Hanks is Mel Gibson in his first comedy in many years, and what is likely to be his highest-grossing film ever. “What Women Want” brought in another $15.5 million or thereabouts in its fourth weekend, running its monthlong tab to close to $138 million.

Only slightly less impressive is the comedy “Miss Congeniality,” a surprise, runaway hit starring Sandra Bullock in her most popular film in several years. In its fast-paced third weekend, it drew $13.8 million--down only 5% from last weekend and pushing it past $66 million to date. Depending on how it fares against the onslaught of new movies over the coming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, “Miss Congeniality” has a shot at the $100-million prize.

“The Family Man,” starring Nicolas Cage, is somewhat tethered to its holiday theme, but is holding its own nicely with $9.2 million expected in its third weekend and just over $56 million in the past 17 days.

“The Emperor’s New Groove” has settled into a pattern of good weekend matinee business, as well as drawing some evening patrons, reaping about $7 million in its fourth weekend and $62 million after one month.

“Vertical Limit” is still hanging in there after five weeks, with $5 million anticipated for the weekend and the $60-million level a short climb ahead.

Teens are making do with a horror film and a comedy. “Wes Craven’s Dracula 2000” has been around for three weeks and has yet to see the steep declines that afflict most scary movies. In its third weekend, it drew an acceptable $4.2 million, with a total of a pretty good $28 million to date. The low-budget “Dude, Where’s My Car?” is the goofy comedy hit of the holiday season, with its fourth weekend expected to generate another $3.8 million and more than $41 million so far.

Steady as they go with a fearless per-screen average of almost $22,000 on 173 screens is “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which added an additional $3.7 million over the weekend and now stands at just under $19 million after only three weeks, with its first major expansion due Friday in about 700 theaters.

Another limited-release film that seems to be currying favor is “Finding Forrester.” Still on 200 screens after three weeks, “Forrester” grossed $2.2 million--about $11,000 a theater and more than $8 million to date. This coming weekend, the appeal of its star, Sean Connery, will be tested as the drama finds itself on 1,800 screens nationally.

The Cuban missile crisis drama “Thirteen Days” will also jump into the national waters with a splashy 2,000-theater launch over the holiday weekend. On only nine screens since Christmas Day, it has grossed $525,000--about $125,000 of that this past weekend.

The Coen brothers’ comedy “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” has grossed $3.8 million since Christmas Day on only 165 screens, $1.4 million of that over the weekend. It will have a broader release on Friday, to more than 400 screens, as will David Mamet’s Hollywood satire “State and Main,” which will land in 500 theaters after grossing $450,000 over the past weekend on 77 screens; it has $2.2 million to date.

“Before Night Falls” was doing good art-house business on eight screens, with $73,000 over the weekend and about $350,000 so far. “Chocolat” will stay put until Jan. 19 in about 260 theaters, where it has been faring well with $1.5 million over the past weekend and a tasty $6.4 million since its debut three weeks ago.

“You Can Count on Me” continues to pick up critical kudos and fuel consumer interest, with the past weekend adding $460,000 on 149 screens and $4.5 million to date, which is only slightly more than “Quills” has done ($4.3 million). Now on 223 screens, the period drama added $600,000 over the weekend. And finally, “Billy Elliot” keeps chugging along with $438,000 over the weekend on 267 screens and just under $18 million so far.

Box Office

Estimated weekend grosses, in millions:

1. “Cast Away,” $24.1 million.

2. “What Women Want,” $15.5 million.

3. “Traffic,” $14.9 million.

4. “Miss Congeniality,” $13.8 million.

5. “The Family Man,” $9.2 million.

6. “The Emperor’s New Groove,” $7 million.

7. “Vertical Limit,” $5 million.

8. “Wes Craven Presents” Dracula 2000,” $4.2 million.

9. “Dude, Where’s My Car?”, $3.8 million.

10. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” $3.7 million.