‘Sense’ Scares Off Challengers

Over the weekend, Disney’s “The Sixth Sense� accomplished what no movie since “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace� has been able to do all summer long: hold onto the No. 1 slot for more than one week running.

Even more impressive, the psychological thriller with a twist is showing all the earmarks of an “Omen�-type hit, remaining almost dead even with its first weekend and racking up an estimated $26.1 million on 2,395 screens for a sensational 10-day total of $70 million and almost $11,000 a theater. It will join the elite summer $100-million club in the next week or so.

Due to its hot holding power, “Sixth Sense� relegated the Steve Martin-Eddie Murphy comedy “Bowfinger� to a second-place debut with a better-than-good estimate of $18.2 million in 2,700 theaters--nearly $7,000 a screen, playing well to older and younger audiences, according to Universal Pictures.

The two other weekend arrivals, “Brokedown Palace� and “Detroit Rock City,� were barely noticed.

“Brokedown,� starring Claire Danes, eked into the top 10 with an estimated $4-million debut in 1,740 theaters, while “Detroit� landed in 13th place with only $2 million in 1,802 theaters.

The top five films again each sold $10 million or more in tickets over the second weekend in August, contributing the lion’s share of the nearly $116 million grossed by the top dozen movies--nearly 33% ahead of the same weekend last year, as summer 1999 roars to a conclusion that may reach $3 billion for the first time. The inevitable slowdown begins this week with schools reopening in 25% of the country.

“The Blair Witch Project� crossed the $100-million mark on Saturday in its third weekend of national release, the ninth film this summer to do so (“The General’s Daughter� got there during the past week). “Witch� is that rare film that will be a blockbuster without ever having inhabited the No. 1 slot.

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Grosses declined an acceptable 37%, as the low-budget phenomenon showed no sign of lagging, easily outperforming even the heartiest horror movies with $15.25 million estimated in 2,412 theaters for the weekend and $108 million so far.

The 10th film to achieve $100-million status will be “Runaway Bride,� which is still seducing romantics, riding to a strong $14.2-million weekend in 3,212 theaters, topping $98 million after three weeks.

“The Thomas Crown Affair� is luring older couples aplenty, generating a sexy $10.2 million in its second weekend in 2,427 theaters for a total of $31 million in its first 10 days.

“Deep Blue Sea� took a 40% hit, sinking to a predicted $6.7 million in 2,710 theaters in its third weekend, for a 17-day total of $57 million.

“Inspector Gadget� continues to satisfy the little tykes with a healthy forecast for its fourth weekend of $6.2 million in 2,591 theaters, bringing its monthlong tally to an impressive $76 million, meaning the film should end up just this side of $100 million.

The remaining films in the top 10 were fairly anemic. “Mystery Men� plummeted more than 50% in its second weekend, sagging to about $4.9 million on 2,140 screens for a two-week total of only $19 million. In 10th place was “The Iron Giant,� which is only playing to the very young, grossing a wan $3.8 million in its second weekend in 2,179 theaters for a 10-day total of less than $13 million.

Of the limited-release films, the debut of “Better Than Chocolate� was semisweet with about $89,000 in 15 theaters.