Box Office Report
April 15th, 2002
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Changing Lanes," a road-rage thriller starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson, ended Jodie Foster's two-week reign at the North American weekend box office on Sunday, grossing an estimated $17.6 million in its first three days.
The Paramount Pictures film, which revolves around an escalating feud between two motorists, pushed Foster's "Panic Room" into second place with $11.3 million in its third weekend.
After 17 days, the Sony Pictures home-invasion thriller has rung up $74.1 million, and has a good chance of reaching $100 million, said the studio's distribution and marketing president, Jeff Blake.
"Panic Room" began its foreign run in eight countries this weekend, and was No. 1 in all of them -- Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Combined ticket sales from these markets reached $5.4 million.
The top 10 contained two other new entries. Sony's "The Sweetest Thing," a raunchy comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair, racked up $10.0 million at No. 3. The $43 million-budgeted film, whose "R" rating for strong sexual content and language kept out many kids under 17, opened on target, said Blake. Sony Pictures is a unit of Sony Corp (news - web sites).
"Frailty," a psychological drama marking the feature directing debut of its star, William Paxton, bowed at No. 8 with a disappointing $4.2 million (tied with "National Lampoon's Van Wilder"). The film, which received good reviews, was released by Lions Gate Films, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Inc .
Rounding out the top five, the hit cartoon "Ice Age" (20th Century Fox) fell one spot to No. 4 with $8.7 million in its fifth weekend. It has grossed $151.7 million to date and is on course for $175 million, said Bruce Snyder, president of distribution at the Fox Entertainment Group Inc. -owned studio.
"The Rookie," a fact-based Walt Disney Co. baseball drama starring Dennis Quaid, also fell one place, to No. 5, with $8.1 million, taking its three-week haul to $45.4 million.