WEEKEND BOXOFFICE REPORT: 'Mummy Returns' Holds on to No. 1; 'A Knight's Tale' Lances No. 2

14 May, 2001 By: Ed Ochs

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Universal's The Mummy Returns captured No. 1 for the second week in a rowwith an estimated $32.2 million, for a 10-day total of $116.5 million. A Knight's Tale opened well at No. 2 with an estimated $17 million.

The PG-13 sequel The Mummy Returns, produced for around $100 million, may not have enough star firepower to reach $200 million domestically, but still has yet to add the global box office to its grandtotal -- and that's the number that really counts.

Sony's PG-13 A Knight's Tale scored with young females attracted by Australian girl magnet Heath Ledger (The Patriot) as well as with its fresh mix of rock music with historical action scenes...as if rock was the music of the day, if not the ages. Being different is the difference thatmakes A Knight's Tale something more than a teen movie set in a castle, which will keep it alive beyond more than just a joust.

Like The Mummy Returns one week before, A Knight's Tale opened unopposed, allowing it to corner the new debut market for the weekend. This not only points up the thin ranks of new releases in May --the animated Shrek and thriller Angel Eyes open next weekend -- but it gives longer legs through the month to a handful of movies...as spring cuts to summer with Pearl Harbor on Memorial Dayweekend.

Speaking of legs, Miramax's Bridget Jones's Diary stayed solid at No. 3, with a total to date of $51 million. Paramount's Along Came aSpider brought another $3 million into its web for a total to date of $64.1 million. Miramax's Spy Kids added $2.5 million to reach $101.5 million as the sequel heads for development. Throw in JohnnyDepp's Blow with a total to date of $47.3 million, and you hold in one hand the big hits of spring 2001.

Not in full national release but new to the top 10: Newmarket's dark thrillerMomento, starring Guy Pierce ($10.2 million total to date); and Sony's The Tailor of Panama, starring Pierce Brosnan and Geoffrey Rush ($10.5 million to date).

Tumbling out of the top 10: Sony's David Spade comedy Joe Dirt ($25.8 million to date); New Line's Warren Beatty farce Town &Country ($6.1 million to date); and Sony vampire disaster The Forsaken. ($6.1 million to date).

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