'Monsters' scares up win at box office

HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The opening of computer-animated comedy "Monsters Inc." easily led the nation's box office with an impressive estimated $63.5 million at 3,237 theaters during the Friday-Sunday period, studio sources said Sunday.

The heavily promoted Disney/Pixar comedy, aimed at family audiences and bolstered by surprisingly strong reviews, posted the eighth largest weekend opening of all time. Monsters," which focuses on a civilization of oddball beings that depend on children's screams, ranks as the largest Disney three-day opening by topping the $59 million record by "Pearl Harbor."

"Monsters" also became the fourth film of the year to crack the $60 million mark in its first three days, following "The Mummy Returns," "Planet of the Apes" and "Rush Hour 2."

Analyst Arthur Rockwell of Rockwell Capital Management noted that 'Monsters" performed at the top end of expectations and managed the feat with a G rating.

"The performance by 'Monsters' is exceptional because it's not targeted at the young adults crowds that go on Friday and Saturday nights," Rockwell said. "What it shows is that if you offer something that's above average at theaters, people will go see it."

The success of "Monsters" makes it the fourth hit in a row for a Disney-Pixar collaboration following the two "Two Story" films and "A Bug's Life." With some of the heaviest moviegoing periods coming up as part of the holiday season, "Monsters" has a chance of hitting the $200 million mark.

The weekend's other openings also drew solidly in the next two spots with Warner Bros.' "The One," blending science fiction and martial arts, taking in $20 million at 2,894 theaters and Paramount's action-drama "Domestic Disturbance" following with $14.5 million at 2,910 sites.

Rockwell noted that "The One," starring Jet Li, was able to generate interest among young adult males by offering similar themes to the 1999 hit "The Matrix." "That's a strong core audience that's looking for something new and different," he added.

Paramount said "Domestic Disturbance," starring John Travolta as a father protecting his son from his ex-wife's new husband, drew mostly females.

"It's a respectable opening but it's certainly not going to be a major hit," Rockwell said.

Universal's second weekend of "K-Pax" continued to draw well with $10.7 million at 2,545 locations, losing 38 percent of its opening weekend audience. "It looks as if 'K-Pax' is getting fairly good word of mouth," Rockwell added.

Warner's second weekend of "Thirteen Ghosts" followed with a still-solid $8 million at 2,781 screens to give the low-cost project nearly $28 million.

With the first five films taking in about $117 million, business was far above average, giving credibility to the assertions that the movie exhibition industry can thrive in the current uncertain economic and political times.

"If there are good movies, people will usually see them despite whatever other problems there are," Rockwell said.

For the year to date, business has gone past $6.5 billion and is 9 percent ahead of the same time last year.

The third weekend of Sony's "Riding in Cars with Boys" finished a distant sixth with $4.5 million at 2,554 theaters, followed by 20th Century Fox's third weekend of "From Hell" with $3.7 million at 1,945 sites and Warner's fifth weekend of "Training Day" with $3.2 million at 1,805 locations. "Training Day" has now hit $69.7 million in 31 days.

MGM's fourth weekend of "Bandits" came in ninth with $3 million at 2,116 theaters, followed by Miramax's fifth weekend of "Serendipity" with $2.5 million at 1,640 screens.

"Monsters" is likely to lead again on the upcoming weekend, which will also see openings from Fox's romantic comedy "Shallow Hal," starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and Warner's drama "Heist" with Danny DeVito and Gene Hackman.