Moviegoers ignore the critics’ advice, get ‘Married’

Audiences ignored critics and propelled “Just Married” to the top of the weekend box office with $18 million, according to studio projections released Sunday.

Starring Ashton Kutcher of “That ‘70s Show” and his real-life girlfriend, Brittany Murphy, the film about mismatched newlyweds on a disastrous European honeymoon was one of three romantic comedies in the top 10 (which, due to ties, actually involved 12 films). The others were “Two Weeks Notice” and “Maid in Manhattan.”

“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” which had been No. 1 for three straight weekends, slipped to second place with an estimated $15 million in receipts, which pushed its total domestic gross to $283.6 million.

Generally disdained by critics, “Just Married” appealed solidly to young moviegoers, with people younger than 21 making up 65% of the audience, according to distributor 20th Century Fox. The movie’s estimated $18 million is the amount it cost to shoot, although generally only roughly half a movie’s eventual gross in theaters makes its way back to the producing studio.

Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can” came in third with an estimated $14.8 million, raising its total to $119.5 million. It was the 23rd movie released in 2002 to top $100 million, beating the previous record of 22 set in 2000.

Sandra Bullock’s “Two Weeks Notice” came in fourth with $6.7 million, bringing its total to $78.9 million. Rounding out the top 5 was the critically acclaimed “About Schmidt, which grossed $6.3 million, averaging $7,225 in 865 theaters.

With the highest average among films ranked in the top 10, “Chicago” was in sixth place with $5.6 million, or $15,469 per theater in only 372 locations.

Expanding from narrow release, Denzel Washington’s “Antwone Fisher” and Nicolas Cage’s “Adaptation” broke into the top 10.

“Antwone Fisher,” directed by Washington and starring Derek Luke as a violent sailor confronting childhood traumas, widened to 1,006 theaters and came in at No. 9 with $3.8 million.

The offbeat Hollywood tale “Adaptation,” reteaming “Being John Malkovich” writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze, squeezed into the top 10 with $2.9 million, tying with Fox’s marching-band movie, “Drumline,” which has taken in a surprising $51.4 million. “Adaptation” is in 560 theaters.

Also expanding from limited release were Ray Liotta’s cop thriller “Narc,” which grossed $2.74 million in 822 theaters, and Spike Lee’s Manhattan drug-dealer drama, “The 25th Hour,” which did $2.7 million in 490 theaters.

Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York” added $5 million to its take to tie with the Jennifer Lopez vehicle “Maid in Manhattan” for seventh place. “Maid” is proving a durable holdover from December, bringing in $83.7 million to date.

“The Two Towers” remains on track to shoot past the $313-million total of 2001’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

Amid a continuing dearth of notable new releases, ticket sales for the top 12 films slid almost 19% from last weekend to $88.6 million, according to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations.

The tally was virtually flat compared with the year-ago weekend.