HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 16 -- Alien-invasion thriller 'Independence Day' has taken in more than $261 million at the domestic box office after 45 days to top 'Jaws' as the eighth largest grosser of all time. The 20th Century Fox release still is taking in nearly $1 million a day at 2,589 theaters and was on the verge Friday of passing 'Return of the Jedi' in the No. 7 spot at $263.7 million. On Thursday, 'Independence Day' continued its march toward the $300 million mark by taking in $994,600 to bring its total to $261.2 million. 'ID4' will add about $6 million during the Friday-Sunday period and finish August somewhere past the No. 6 film, 'Home Alone,' at $281.6 million. But it probably will close out the summer short of No. 5, 'The Lion King' with $313 million. The performance has been strong enough to be a major factor in keeping most other new releases from performing well. Of the two dozen movies released since July 2, only Disney's 'Phenomenon' and Warner Bros.' 'A Time To Kill' have racked up solid results with current grosses of $90 million and $65 million, respectively. Warner is likely to score another hit this weekend with 'Tin Cup,' a golf comedy starring Kevin Costner that has generated strong reviews, and will open at 2,012 theaters. 'Cup' is likely to top $12 million. Disney's second weekend of Robin Williams comedy 'Jack' also should perform well with about $8 million at 1,710 theaters and battle the fourth weekend of 'A Time To Kill' for second place.
Also opening will be Universal's 'Tales From the Crypt: Bordello of Blood' at 1,693 theaters and TriStar's 'The Fan,' starring Robert De Niro in the 'Taxi Driver' turf of obsession and stalking, at 2,016 theaters. Both have received downbeat reviews -- some critics have labeled 'The Fan' one of the worst in recent memory -- but they should take in $5 million to $7 million each. Studios opened a pair of films on Wednesday with limited potential, both targeted at the younger crowd -- MGM's comedy 'House Arrest' at 1, 623 theaters and Columbia's Arctic adventure 'Alaska' at 1,566 screens. New Line also will open Robert Altman's 31st movie, 'Kansas City,' focusing on a jazz club in 1934, in 205 theaters. Miramax is adding screens to the run of 'Emma,' the latest screen adapation of a Jane Austen novel, which took in an impressive $1.4 million at 105 theaters last weekend. The box office has finished below the total of the same weekend last year for the last four weekends. Despite the slump, it is approaching $3.8 billion and remains about $350 million ahead of the pace in 1995. The 20 top-grossing domestic movies, year of release, total gross: 1. 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,' 1982, $399.8 million. 2. 'Jurassic Park,' 1993, $356 million. 3. 'Forrest Gump,' 1994, $329 million. 4. 'Star Wars,' 1977, $322 million. 5. 'The Lion King,' 1994, $313 million. 6. 'Home Alone,' 1990, $281.6 million. 7. 'Return of the Jedi,' 1983, $263.7 million. 8. 'Independence Day,' 1996, $261.2 million. 9. 'Jaws,' 1975, $260 million. 10. 'Batman,' 1989, $251.2 million. 11. 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 1981, $242.4 million. 12. 'Beverly Hills Cop,' 1984, $234.8 million. 13. 'Twister,' 1996, $234 million. 14. 'The Empire Strikes Back,' 1980, $223 million. 15. 'Ghostbusters,' 1984, $220.9 million. 16. 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 1993, $219 million. 17. 'Aladdin,' 1992, $217.4 million. 18. 'Ghost,' 1990, $217 million. 19. 'Back to the Future,' 1985, $208.2 million. 20. 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' 1991, $204 million.
