'K-Pax' leads US box office

HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The opening of "K-Pax" narrowly led the nation's box office with an estimated $17.5 million at 2,541 theaters during the Friday-Sunday period, studio sources said Sunday.

"K-Pax," a science-fiction tale starring Kevin Spacey, posted the third best October rollout ever after "Meet the Parents" and "Training Day." Universal had marketed the picture as a mystery revolving around whether Spacey's character is an alien from outer space.

"The studio did a pretty good job of getting people interested in a Kevin Spacey movie," said analyst Arthur Rockwell of Rockwell Capital Management. "It's not a film that's easy to market so the number is very respectable."

Warner Bros.' opening of "Thirteen Ghosts" finished a close second with $15.7 million at 2,781 theaters. Rockwell said it made sense to release "Ghosts" before Halloween, when interest among young adult moviegoers would be maximized.

"This is certainly a decent weekend considering that there are no major hits in the marketplace," he added. "The two top films posted solid numbers, even with the distractions of Halloween parties and the first two games of the baseball World Series."

Finishing a distant third was 20th Century Fox's second weekend of "From Hell" with $6.1 million at 2,335 sites. "Hell," which led last weekend with a mild $11 million, edged Sony's second weekend of "Riding in Cars With Boys" with $6 million at 2,770 screens.

Warner Bros.' fourth weekend of "Training Day" followed in fifth with $5.1 million at 2,328 sites to lift its 24-day total to $65 million. "Day" has been the most successful film since "The Others" grossed nearly $95 million.

MGM's "Bandits" continued to generate lukewarm returns in sixth with $5.05 million at 3,015 sites, followed by Miramax's fourth weekend of "Serendipity" with $3.9 million at 2,203 locations. DreamWorks' second weekend of "The Last Castle" lost 48 percent of its audience to finish eighth with $3.7 million at 2,270 theaters.

Another ghost-themed movie, New Line's "Bones," came in ninth with a moderate $3 million at 847 sites, edging out Disney's third weekend of "Corky Romano" with $2.9 million at 2,001 theaters.

Miramax's teen comedy "On the Line" with 'N Sync stars Lance Bass and Joey Fatone finished a disappointing 11th with $2.3 million at 900 locations, edging Fox's fifth weekend of "Don't Say a Word" with $2.25 million at 1,704 screens.

Disney's comedy "High Heels and Low Lifes," with Minnie Driver and Mary McCormack, generated little interest with $149,000 at 175 locations.

The top 12 films totalled $73 million, up 3 percent from the year-ago weekend. The total for the year to date has now hit $6.4 billion, 9 percent ahead of the take at the same point last year.

The upcoming weekend could see impressive results, particularly with Disney/Pixar opening animated comedy "Monsters Inc." Also opening will be a pair of action dramas -- Paramount's "Domestic Disturbance" with John Travolta and Sony's "The One" with Jet Li.