‘Panic Room’ Sets an Easter Record

The Columbia Pictures thriller “Panic Room” grossed $30.1 million, the best debut of any film over an Easter weekend. Second place went to the 20th Century Fox animated hit “Ice Age,” which took in $18.1 million.

Disney’s G-rated baseball yarn “The Rookie” opened solidly with $16 million for a third-place finish, but Paramount Pictures’ kid-oriented sci-fi adventure “Clockstoppers” ($10.1 million) and Warner Bros.’ dark satire “Death to Smoochy” ($4.3 million) fared less well.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, noted that March was a stronger box-office month than anyone predicted, with films opening at more than $30 million for three consecutive weekends.

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Weekend Box Office

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Robert W. Welkos