‘Patch’ Sews It Up Again

“Patch Adams” was the big box-office attraction for the second week in a row, grossing $19.1 million over the New Year’s holiday weekend.

“There was a drop at the box office between Friday and Saturday [because of the wintry weather back East],” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations Inc.

He said $6.95 billion was spent at the box office in 1998, easily setting a new record.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Patch Adams” $19.1 2,751 2 (Universal) $65.5 $6,925 2. “Stepmom” $14.6 2,358 2 (Sony/Columbia) $50.0 $6,184 3. “You’ve Got Mail” $14.2 2,776 3 (Warner Bros.) $77.9 $5,107 4. “The Prince of Egypt” $11.2 3,202 3 (DreamWorks) $66.4 $3,512 5. “A Bug’s Life” $8.8 2,551 7 (Disney/Pixar) $136.4 $3,462 6. “Mighty Joe Young” $8.1 2,544 2 (Disney) $28.1 $3,192 7. “The Faculty” $7.5 2,365 2 (Miramax/Dimension) $25.9 $3,165 8. “Enemy of the State” $4.8 1,539 7 (Disney/Touchstone) $96.8 $3,112 9. “Star Trek: Insurrection” $4.7 2,516 4 (Paramount) $58.6 $1,887 10. “Shakespeare in Love” $3.2 299 4 (Miramax) $9.4 $10,609 * “Hilary and Jackie” $92,956 6 1 (October) $134,929 $15,493 * “Affliction” $63,979 3 1 (Lions Gate) $90,017 $21,326 * “Playing by Heart” $26,669 1 1 (Miramax) $36,934 $26,669 * “The Hi-Lo Country” $17,712 3 1 (Gramercy) $23,725 $5,904

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.