Box Office Wanes Along With Summer

With the summer season officially over, the box office wilted in its final week. Not only was the tally down 7% from last August, attendance was off 10%.

Despite a lackluster August, the summer movie season ended up grossing 10% more than last year, with a $3.8 billion total from May 3 through Labor Day. Of the major studio films out in August, “Signs” continues to do well, becoming Mel Gibson’s highest-grossing film.

But by this weekend, the independent hit “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” could displace “Signs” from the No. 1 one spot.

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Weekend Box Office

*--* Movie (Studio) 4-day Screens/ Average Weeks in Release gross/ Total (millions ) 1.”Signs” $17.0 3,437 5 (Buena Vista) $195.6 $4,959 2.”My Big Fat Greek $14.8 1,619 20 Wedding” (IFC Films) $83 $9,147 3.”XXX” $13.1 3,536 4 (Sony) $123.9 $3,707 4.”Spy Kids 2: The $8.3 3,250 4 Island of Lost Dreams” (Dimension) $70 $2,546 5.”feardotcom” $7.084 2,550 1 (Warner Bros.) $7.084 $2,779 6.”Austin Powers in $7.069 2,506 6 Goldmember” (New Line Cinema) $203.4 $2,821 7.”Blue Crush” $5.7 2,820 3 (Universal) $34.7 $1,975 8.”Serving Sara” $4.3 2,174 2 (Paramount) $11.9 $2,017 9.”The Good Girl” $3.8 667 4 (Fox Searchlight) $7.5 $5,704 10.”One Hour Photo” $3.3 164 2 (Fox Searchlight) $3.8 $20,300 Source Exhibitor Relations Co

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