A ‘Soldiers’ March to Top Spot

Two new films dealing with vastly different forms of sacrifice--war and abstinence--grabbed the top spots at the North American weekend box office, according to studio estimates issued Sunday.

The Mel Gibson Vietnam War saga “We Were Soldiers” opened at No. 1 with $20.2 million, which was at the lower end of Paramount Pictures’ expectations.

The sex comedy “40 Days and 40 Nights” bowed at No. 2 with $12.5 million, which a Miramax spokesman said was on target. In the film, Josh Hartnett plays a jilted lover who gives up sex for the titular period to get over his ex-girlfriend.

Last weekend’s No. 1 film, the vampire thriller “Queen of the Damned,” tumbled to No. 6 with $5.8 million, taking its 10-day total to $23.8 million.

The top five was rounded out by the Denzel Washington hostage thriller “John Q.” (New Line Cinema) at No. 3, with $8.4 million, followed by the Kevin Costner supernatural drama “Dragonfly” (Universal Pictures), with $6.8 million, and the Peter Pan sequel “Return to Never Land” (Walt Disney Pictures), with $6.5 million. Each fell one spot.

The top 12 films grossed $81 million, according to box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, down 4% from last weekend but up 8% from the year-ago period, when “The Mexican” was tops with $20.1 million.

If estimates hold when final data are issued today, “We Were Soldiers” will beat “The Mexican’s” record for a film opening in the first weekend of March.”We Were Soldiers” stars Gibson as an officer who leads 400 men into the first major battle of the Vietnam War, at Ia Drang Valley in 1965. The $70-million film was based on the memoir “We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young” and was adapted, directed and produced by Randall Wallace, who wrote Gibson’s “Braveheart.”

Following “Behind Enemy Lines,” “Black Hawk Down” and “Hart’s War,” “We Were Soldiers” could have suffered from moviegoer fatigue with war films, said Wayne Lewellen, president of distribution at Paramount. The Viacom Inc.-owned studio had targeted an opening of $20 million to $25 million, but Lewellen was still pleased with the number.

Male viewers made up about 56% of the audience, but the film skewed older--almost three-quarters of viewers were older than 25.

“40 Days and 40 Nights” skewed female--60%--and played strongest to viewers ages 17 to 25, said Miramax Films marketing executive David Kaminow.

“Queen of the Damned,” starring late R&B; singer Aaliyah as a 6,000-year-old Egyptian vampire bent on ruling the Earth, suffered the biggest drop in the top 10, losing 61% of its audience from last weekend.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” returned to the top 10 after a two-week absence, jumping two spots to the final rung with $3.1 million. After 11 weekends, the adventure fantasy has grossed $287.4 million. The film has 13 Oscar nominations.

Rounding out the top 10, “Big Fat Liar” and “A Beautiful Mind” each fell one place to Nos. 7 and 8, with $4.8 million and $4.4 million, respectively. Their totals rose to $38.8 million and $138.7 million.

The Britney Spears road movie “Crossroads” fell four places, to No. 9, with $4 million, taking its 17-day total to $31.2 million--about 21/2 times its production budget.