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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (33351)	3/8/2004 7:47:41 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793911

'Passion' Stays No. 1 at Box Office - NYT LOS ANGELES, March 7 (AP) — Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" took in $51.4 million in its second weekend to remain the top movie at the box office, exceeding the $200 million mark in just 12 days. "Starsky & Hutch," the action comedy starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson,' opened in second place, with $29 million, while the horse-racing adventure "Hidalgo," with Viggo Mortensen, opened at No. 3 with $19.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. "The Passion," Mr. Gibson's bloody re-enactment of Jesus' Crucifixion, has grossed $212 million so far in the United States and Canada. The film, which was released by Newmarket Films and stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus, held up strongly, with receipts down just 39 percent from its huge opening weekend of $83.8 million. Movies opening to such high numbers often drop 50 percent or more in their second weekends. The two big weekends for "The Passion" have pulled the industry, which had been languishing, virtually even with last year's receipts, according to Exhibitor Relations, which tracks box-office figures. The Academy Awards gave a solid bounce to the best-picture winner, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which climbed back into the Top 10 with $3.2 million, raising its total to $368.3 million. "Starsky & Hutch," an update of the 1970's television show, stars Mr. Stiller and Mr. Wilson as buddy cops hunting a cocaine dealer. In "Hidalgo" Mr. Mortensen is an Old West cowboy who becomes the first Westerner invited to compete in a horse race across the Arabian desert. "I've never seen anything quite like `The Passion,' " said Chuck Viane, the distribution chief at Disney, which released "Hidalgo." "To have two other movies come in and open as strongly as they did in the face of a steamroller, you can't complain." These are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations, with final figures to be released Monday: "The Passion of the Christ," $51.4 million. "Starsky & Hutch," $29.05 million. "Hidalgo," $19.6 million. "50 First Dates," $7.7 million. "Twisted," $5 million. "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen," $4 million. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," $3.2 million. "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," $2.85 million. "Miracle," $2.6 million. "Monster," $2.25 million. Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company