‘Ring’ lands in winner’s circle

Naomi Watts’ star turn in a remake of a Japanese thriller, “The Ring,” spooked its way into the No. 1 spot this weekend, while Reese Witherspoon’s “Sweet Home Alabama” hung onto second place for the third weekend in a row, according to studio box-office estimates.

“The Ring,” which was released on 1,981 screens nationwide, grossed an estimated $15 million, taking in about $7,572 per screen. British-born Watts broke out with last year’s bizarre but critically lauded David Lynch film “Mulholland Drive.”

In its fourth weekend, “Sweet Home” is Witherspoon’s biggest box-office hit, bringing in an estimated $9.6 million over the weekend, dropping a respectable 33% from last weekend.

The film has grossed about $99 million, landing Witherspoon among a select few female actors who can open a studio movie.

Hannibal Lecter and “Red Dragon” sank from first to third place with an estimated $8.8 million, dropping 50% from the prior weekend, for a three-weekend total of $77.8 million.

The film is underperforming compared with “Hannibal,” despite being better received among critics.

“My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the most successful independent film of all time, edged up a notch to No. 4, grossing $7.1 million over the weekend for a whopping $169.3-million gross since its May release. The lighthearted romantic comedy “Brown Sugar” slipped to No. 5, grossing an estimated $5.3 million. The film, starring Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs, has brought in $18.1 million in 10 days. Stephen Gaghan’s directorial debut, “Abandon,” tied with “Brown Sugar” at No. 5, also bringing in $5.3 million in its first weekend.

Though director Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Punch-Drunk Love” may not be in the top 10, it averaged an impressive $20,897 per screen on only 78 screens in select cities. In two weekends, the movie has grossed $2.2 million. The film’s distributor, Columbia Pictures, plans to add at least 400 screens by next weekend and to roll it out by Nov. 1 to a national release in more than 1,000 theaters.

The film, which has garnered critical acclaim for Anderson -- winner of the best director prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival -- is an odd romantic comedy starring an unlikely pair: Emily Watson, known more for her intense dramatic performances in such films as “Hilary and Jackie,” and America’s leading goofball, Adam Sandler.

Revolution Studios, which produced the film and created the marketing strategy, knew the film had to be sold as an “auteur” work, attracting audiences based on solid reviews and the director’s reputation. “We were not trying to fool anybody by selling it as an Adam Sandler movie,” said Revolution partner Tom Sherak.

Among other limited releases, “Bowling for Columbine,” Michael Moore’s pointed documentary about the U.S. gun culture, also performed solidly, averaging $16,799 per theater in 46 locations in a dozen cities. In sixth place was “The Transporter,” grossing $5 million for a total of $17 million. At No. 7 was the animated film “Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie,” bringing in $4.1 million. .