It’s ‘Payback’ Time in Theaters for Those Tired of Teen Flicks

Action fans got a bellyful of lead over the weekend as “Payback,� starring Mel Gibson, debuted to an estimated $21.4 million and Tom Hanks and his troops returned in “Saving Private Ryan� to gross another $3.6 million on 1,027 screens.

“Simply Irresistible,� starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, however, proved to be one teen film too many. It was simply unable to compete with last week’s arrival, “She’s All That,� and the recent “Varsity Blues.� “Irresistible� proved to be anything but, debuting to a weak $2.3 million on 1,359 screens, almost outflanked by the quirky Wes Anderson comedy “Rushmore,� which--on only 103 screens--almost made it into the top 10 with about $1.85 million, a potent $18,000 per theater.

“Payback� was just the big, high-profile commercial film the box office was lacking and cleaned up with almost $8,000 a theater on 2,720 screens. Weekend grosses have been lagging behind last year at this time when “Titanic� ruled the waves. But in selling about one of every three tickets, “Payback� helped bring the weekend totals for the top 12 films up to about $63 million, less than 8% behind last year’s pace.

Last week’s No. 1 film, “She’s All That,� slid to second place with a modest 25% drop (aided by almost

400 new screens) to $12 million on 2,620 screens. With a 10-day total of more than $31 million, it looks to be as big a hit as fourth-place “Varsity Blues,� which lost some of the air in its pigskin with an estimated $4 million on 2,364 screens and a monthlong total of not quite $45 million.

Many of the films in the top 10 are showing signs of exhaustion, but not “Patch Adams,� which came in third with a projected $4.5 million on 2,725 screens, bolstered by Saturday sneaks for “October Sky,� which Universal reports were 80% full and snagged very positive reactions. The Robin Williams weepy comedy is now approaching the $125-million mark.

Even more impressive is the hold of “Shakespeare in Love� with an estimated $3.6 million on only 833 screens, just 11% off last week for more than $36 million since its limited opening in early December. “A Civil Action� is headed due south, though, with $3.2 million estimated over the weekend on 2,031 screens, and about $52 million to date.

“Stepmom� still has its fans among older women, bringing in $2.6 million in its seventh week. The Julia Roberts-Susan Sarandon drama now has its sights set on $90 million, a mark it should reach next weekend. “You’ve Got Mail� slowed to $2.3 million over the weekend on 2,016 screens, with $110 million already in its pouch.

The coming Presidents Day holiday should give a boost to such likely Oscar nominees as “Private Ryan� and “Shakespeare.� (Nominations will be announced Tuesday.) “Ryan� is heading past $200 million and before it’s through should overtake “Armageddon� as the top-grossing film of 1998. Joining the weekend fray are “My Favorite Martian�; yet another teen title, “Blast From the Past�; and the Kevin Costner romancer “Message in a Bottle.�