Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe MORE RECORDS FOR 'SPIDER-MAN' With an estimated $72 million at 3,615 theaters from Friday to Sunday, "Spider-Man" continued to do amazing business and rewrite the box-office record books. Advertisement The screen version of the Marvel comics classic has now taken in $223.6 million in 10 days, to become the 29th biggest movie hit in U.S history. Along the way it has racked up records for biggest three-day opening weekend ($114.8 million), fastest to gross $200 million (nine days), and biggest second weekend. It accounted for 64 percent of tickets sold by the top 10 films -- down from about 75 percent in its opening weekend. Whether "Spider-Man" will continue to post huge numbers depends on how "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" performs when it open this week. While much of the "Spider-Man" target audience is expected to shift its business to "Star Wars," it's also likely that the arrival of a new blockbuster at the multiplexes will throw a little business to "Spider-Man." Advertisement In any event, box-office analysts expect the pair of heavy-hitters will lead the U.S. box office overall next weekend to new heights. With no help from "Star Wars," "Spider-Man" led the way this weekend to an overall gross of $112 million -- $43 million better than the same weekend last year. So far this year, the overall U.S. box office has taken in $2.9 billion -- 16 percent more than it has up to this point last year. THE REST On many weekends throughout the year, a $14.2 million opening is good for No. 1 at the U.S. box-office and a spate of stories about a successful opening -- so for the new Richard Gere-Diane Lane movie, $14.2 million represents a moral victory of sorts. "Unfaithful" finished second to "Spider-Man," followed by the new DJ Qualls-Eddie Griffin comedy "The New Guy" with $9.5 million. "The Scorpion King" took in just $4.4 million in its fourth weekend, for a running total of $80 million. SEINFELD: 'TV IS GREAT' When viewers tune in to ABC's special "TV Guide's 50 Best Shows of All Time" on Monday night, they'll see "Seinfeld" at the top of the list -- and Jerry Seinfeld couldn't be more pleased. Advertisement He told gossip columnist Liz Smith that it's the greatest honor the show has ever received. "I felt a little weak in the knees," said Seinfeld. "It took me a couple of days to kind of understand it." In eight seasons on NBC, the show was nominated for 68 Emmys and won 10 -- including outstanding comedy series in 1993. Don't get Seinfeld started on "these parents" who don't want their kids to watch TV. "I want my kids in front of the set all the time," he said. "I learned everything from TV." HACKMAN, HOFFMAN ON 'JURY' DUTY? According to a report in Daily Variety, Gene Hackman is close to a deal to co-star with John Cusack in "The Runaway Jury," based on the John Grisham novel of the same name," and producers are working on trying to get Dustin Hoffman on board as well. Gary Fleder ("Don't Say a Word," "Kiss the Girls") is directing. 'XXX' SETS NEW RELEASE DATE Sony has moved the premiere date of the new Vin Diesel movie "XXX" from Aug. 2 to Aug. 9 -- an apparent indication that the studio thinks the picture will be a strong summer box-office performer. Advertisement Plans had called for the movie -- which reteams Diesel with his "The Fast and the Furious" director Rob Cohen -- to open the same weekend as the new Mel Gibson-M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi thriller "Signs." Now Sony will hold the move back one week to give it a clearer shot at a broader audience. Its place on the Aug. 2 release schedule is being taken by the new Dana Carvey family comedy "Master of Disguise," which is being moved from Aug. 16. In "XXX," Diesel plays an extreme-sports athlete-turned-government agent. CLINTON TV SHOW NOT VERY LIKELY After all the speculation last week about whether he would host a TV talk show, former President Bill Clinton weighed in with his own assessment that it's not very likely he will -- although the idea has a certain appeal. Clinton -- who met with executives from NBC to talk about the prospect, told National Public Radio's Tavis Smiley a show of his own does not seem to be in the cards. "I don't think this is going to happen," said the former president. "I'd be surprised if it did." Advertisement Clinton said he did not know if he would accept an on-air position as analyst or commentator.
