Weekend Box Office

While “The First Wives Club” continued to dominate the box office for the third week in a row, it’s also been a big week for “Big Night.” The film, produced by Rysher Entertainment for Goldwyn Films, stars Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott, who also direct it, and centers around two Italian-born brothers (Tucci and Tony Shalhoub) struggling to save their lifelong dream of a restaurant in New Jersey. Made for a scant $4 million and a critical favorite, it has also found a place in audience’s hearts, working its way into the Top 10, a rare accomplishment for a low-budget independent film. The per-screen average for “Big Night” was the highest of all the movies at the box office this weekend, just edging out “First Wives Club.” Currently on 251 screens, “Big Night” will expand to 300 theaters Friday.

*--*

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “The First Wives Club” $11.0 2,312 3 (Paramount) $58.5 $4,765 2. “The Glimmer Man” $7.6 2,236 1 (Warner Bros.) $7.6 $3,401 3. “That Thing You Do!” $6.2 1,870 1 (Fox) $6.2 $3,320 4. “D3: The Mighty Ducks” $6.2 2,056 1 (Walt Disney) $6.2 $3,001 5. “Extreme Measures” $4.0 2,298 2 (Sony/Columbia) $12.9 $1,763 6. “2 Days in the Valley” $2.3 855 2 (MGM/UA) $6.9 $2,670 7. “Fly Away Home” $2.0 1,401 4 (Sony/Columbia) $15.9 $1,438 8. “Last Man Standing” $2.0 2,098 3 (New Line) $15.9 $975 9. “Independence Day” $1.5 1,588 14 (Fox) $295.7 $933 10. “Big Night” $1.2 251 3 (Goldwyn) $2.6 $4,767

*--*

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.