HOLLYWOOD -- 'Back to the Future' posted a dazzling $9 million in the traditional movie summer finale week, to establish the time machine fantasy as the unqualified summer 1985 box-office champ.
The breakaway hit has grossed $132.7 million and is still going strong.
True, 'Rambo: First Blood Part II,' has earned $145.8 million in its 15 weeks of release, but the bloody Sylvester Stallone epic has run its course and was ranked No. 15 in last week's ratings.
'Back to the Future,' the story of a teenager who regresses in time 20 years to attend high school with his pubescent parents, maintained its blistering run in the No. 1 spot after nine weeks in release, all but one of which was at the top of the chart.
Theater owners prepared to tighten their belts, even at the 1,550 houses showing 'Back to the Future,' with school bells ringing students back to their studies.
'Teen Wolf,' starring Michael J. Fox -- who is also the star of 'Back to the Future' -- continued its fast start as the second highest grossing picture with a take of $5 million. After two weeks in release it has grossed $14.7 million.
Continuing to ride high too, holding its No. 3 position, was 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure.' The zany comedy of a triumphant, infantile wimp hauled in $4 million for a four-week total of $25.7 million playing in only 894 theaters.
Chop sockie proved it is still alive and literally kicking with 'American Ninja,' making an impressive debut last week with a $3.2 million gross to keep martial arts fanatics happy. It was No. 4.
Dropping from No. 4 to No. 5 was the Tom Hanks-John Candy Peace Corps comedy, 'Volunteers,' with a $3 million box office, bringing its three-week total to $14.5 million.
The 'Year of the Dragon,' which had Chinese groups around the nation objecting to its alleged racism, was pulled from 136 theaters with concomitant box-office damage. It dropped from No. 5 to No. 7, earning $2.5 million.
Overall, Labor Day week, a traditional box office bonanza, did not measure up to the previous two years. All theaters raked in $83.7 million, as compared to $84.8 million in 1984 and a whopping $91.9 million in 1983.
So far this year the nation's theaters have grossed $2.5 billion as against $2.8 billion last year.
The top ten, last weeks' gross, total gross, weeks in release:
1. 'Back to the Future,' $9 million, $132.7 million, 9 weeks.
2. 'Teen Wolf,' $5 million, $14.7 million, 2 weeks.
3. 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure,' $4 million, $25.7 million, 4 weeks.
4. 'American Ninja,' $3.2 million, 1 week.
5. 'Volunteers,' $3 million, $14.5 million, 3 weeks.
6. 'Compromising Positions,' $3 million, 1 week.
7. 'Year of the Dragon,' $2.5 million, $12.8 million, 3 weeks.
8. 'Gremlins' (re-issue), $2.3 million, 1 week.
9. 'Ghostbusters' (re-issue), $1.9 million, $4.9 million 2 weeks.
10. 'Summer Rental,' $1.9 million, $20 million, 4 weeks.
