A Solid Opening for ‘Beloved’

“Beloved,” director Jonathan Demme’s three-hour drama based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Toni Morrison, debuted at No. 5 but had the best attendance average of any other top 10 film. Starring Oprah Winfrey, “Beloved” grossed $8.16 million in 1,501 theaters, for a per-screen average of $5,440.

Warner Bros. and Universal, each in search of hits this year, had the weekend’s top two movies.

Capturing first place with $13.1 million was Warner’s witchcraft-themed “Practical Magic” starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. By comparison, Bullock’s last film, “Hope Floats,” took in $14.2 million on its first weekend, while “The Peacemaker,” which featured Kidman and George Clooney, debuted at $12.3 million in September 1997.

Universal’s “Bride of Chucky” came in in second place with $11.8 million.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Practical Magic” $13.1 2,652 1 (Warner Bros.) $13.1 $4,941 2. “Bride of Chucky” $11.8 2,412 1 (Universal) $11.8 $4,905 3. “Antz” $11.2 2,903 3 (DreamWorks) $51.4 $3,863 4. “Rush Hour” $8.24 2,724 5 (New Line) $109.9 $3,028 5. “Beloved” $8.16 1,501 1 (Disney/Touchstone) $8.16 $5,440 6. “What Dreams May Come” $6.4 2,506 3 (PolyGram) $41.1 $2,555 7. “A Night at the Roxbury” $3.8 2,169 3 (Paramount) $23.3 $1,760 8. “Urban Legend” $2.9 2,063 4 (Sony/TriStar) $30.9 $1,400 9. “Ronin” $2.8 1,982 4 (MGM/UA) $35.4 $1,415 10. “Holy Man” $2.4 2,013 2 (Disney/Touchstone) $9.0 $1,200

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.