HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 27 -- The robust opening of 'Toy Story' led a record-setting holiday weekend at the nation's box office with $39.1 million and 2,457 theaters from Wednesday to Sunday for the year's second-largest debut. Exhibitor Relations, the industry's box-office tracker, said the top 50 movies took in a total of $158.2 million, about $18 million better than the Thanksgiving record set in 1992 and well over the $150 million five-day record during this year's Fourth of July weekend. Six films topped $13 million. The opening for 'Toy Story,' the first completely computer-animated film, was $13.7 million short of Warner Bros.' 'Batman Forever' opening in June. The 'Toy Story' figure was particularly impressive since many of the admissions were children's tickets at half-price. 'Toy Story' benefited from Disney's huge publicity campaign, strong reviews and the star power of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who played the voices of the lead characters. The comedy should continue to draw wide support for the rest of the year and wind up with well above $150 million. 'Toy Story''s performance underscored Disney's ability to target family audiences as it did so successfully with 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Aladdin,' 'The Lion King' and 'Pocahontas.' Disney stock was up 37.5 cents Monday to $62.875 a share on the New York Stock Exchange. The film's five-day tally also represented the industry's second best on a Thanksgiving weekend, surpassed only by Universal's 'Back to the Future II' in 1989 with $43 million. It was also Disney's biggest non- summer opening.
Richard Cook, head of Disney's distribution arm, said the opening exceeded Disney's 'wildest expectations.' MGM's 'GoldenEye' held up well in its second weekend, placing No. 2 with $26.2 million at 2,667 theaters to move its 10-day total past $57 million. The 17th James Bond movie easily will top $100 million. Warner's third weekend of 'Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls' finished third with $18.6 million at 2,705 theaters to give it $86 million after 17 days. The sequel already has taken in $14 million more than the original 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' totaled last year. Columbia's opening of railroad thriller 'Money Train,' starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, came in fourth with $15.5 million at 2,522 screens. Critics have labeled the film predictable, but its title recognition may get a boost from reports about a New York subway clerk who was severly burned in a crime similar to one depicted in the movie. Universal's 'Casino' debuted in fifth with $14.5 million at 1,616 theaters, despite its three-hour running time and extensive violence. The project, a heavy contender for Academy Awards, should top $50 million and still be playing when Oscar nominations are announced in February. 'GoodFellas,' director Martin Scorsese's 1990 mob movie also starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, took in $46.8 million. Columbia's 'The American President' held up well in its second weekend, particularly for a romantic comedy, with $13.1 million at 1,508 theaters, followed by Warner's second weekend of 'It Takes Two,' with $6.4 million at 1,581 theaters, and MGM's sixth weekend of 'Get Shorty, ' with $4.4 million at 1,522 screens. 'Shorty' has taken in $62 million after 38 days. Amid the strong performances, the big loser was Paramount's opening of 'Nick of Time' with $3.9 million at 1,849 theaters -- a terrible showing for a major release saved for one of the year's top moviegoingperiods. The Johnny Depp thriller will not last long in a market in which distributors are in heavy competition for screens. Rounding out the top 10 was Paramount's fourth weekend of 'Home for the Holidays' with $2.9 million at 1,000 screens. Despite a strong cast led by Holly Hunter, the comedy has disappointed the studio by grossing just $14.5 million after 24 days, possibly because Hunter was appearing in Warner's 'Copycat' at the same time. 'Copycat' took in $2 million at 1,162 screens in its fifth weekend to top $26 million. 'Toy Story' and 'GoldenEye' should lead the box office this weekend against new titles with lukewarm prospects. MGM will open Western 'Wild Bill,' which has received mixed reviews, and Savoy will roll out 'White Man's Burden,' starring John Travolta in a flip- flopped scenario where where white Americans are the oppressed minority. Weekend gross, number of theaters, total gross, weeks in release:
1. 'Toy Story,' $39.1 million, 2,457, 1 week. 2. 'GoldenEye,' $26.2 million, 2,667, $57.2 million, 2 weeks. 3. 'Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls,' $18.6 million, 2,705, $86.3 million, 3 weeks. 4. 'Money Train,' $15.5 million, 2,522, 1 week. 5. 'Casino,' $14.5 million, 1,616, 1 week. 6. 'The American President,' $13.1 million, 1,508, $26 million, 2 weeks. 7. 'It Takes Two,' $6.4 million, 1,581, $12.6 million, 2 weeks. 8. 'Get Shorty, $4.4 million, 1,522, $62.4 million, 6 weeks. 9. 'Nick of Time,' $3.9 million, 1,849, 1 week. 10. 'Home for the Holidays,' $2.9 million, 1,000, $14.5 million, 4 weeks. Top per-theater averages:
1. 'Toy Story,' $16,211. 2. 'GoldenEye,' $9,838. 3. 'Casino,' $9,045. 4. 'The American President,' $8,692. 5. 'Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls,' $6,881.
