"Santa Clause" Jolly Good

Mon., Nov. 4, 2002 3:45 PM PST by

Santa snowed 'em. The pre-Yule arrival of The Santa Clause 2 reined in a fat $29 million.

Blanketing screens at 3,350 sites this post-Halloween weekend, the G-rated sequel--with Tim Allen tripling as the "real" Claus, a mean-spirited robot Claus and toy executive Scott Calvin, who must fulfill a new contract clause that requires there be a Mrs. Claus--did everything Disney could hope for. It grabbed the top slot and a big chunk of money without having to compete with any of the major movies (particularly those featuring elves and wizards) slated to open around the real Christmas season.

Allen's first appearance as the workaholic divorced dad turned jolly fat man was on November 11, 1994, when The Santa Clause debuted in 2,183 sites with $19.3 million. That was good enough for a $8,851 per-screen average on its way to a domestic gross of $144.8 million. Although opening at more screens this time, the sequel's average is actually a little smaller ($8,658), but still the Disney suits can feel their plan worked jolly well.

The only other new wide release this weekend, Sony's PG-13 I Spy, failed to prove eye-catching, taking in just $12.8 million in third place. The teaming of Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson in this update of the cool '60s TV series (which starred Robert Culp and Bill Cosby) ranked behind The Ring, which remained in second place for a second week, scaring up $18.1 million. The fairly low-budget production continues to do solid word-of-mouth business--it has already grossed $64.5 million in three weeks and should soon push past the coveted $100 million mark.

Last weekend's top flick, the gross-out gag fest Jackass: The Movie, was butted down to fourth place, dropping off 44 percent, but still managing to pull in $12.7 million.

Despite Santa's big numbers, box-office bean counter Exhibitor Relations reports it was a ho-hum rather than a ho-ho weekend. Although the top 12 films grossed $100.9 million, up about 16 percent from last weekend, it was still down 24 percent from this time last year.

Meanwhile, in limited release, Frida continued to draw crowds. Expanding from five to 47 screens, Salma Hayek's biopic about the Mexican artist gained an eyebrow-raising 393 percent, averaging $21,395, to earn $1 million.

The Imax-ed Attack of the Clones averaged $19,226 at 58 screens, bringing Star Wars: Episode II's gross to $303.6 million since opening in May. The prequel debuts on home video November 12.

Here is a recap of the weekend's top 10 based on final studio tallies released Monday and compiled by Exhibitor Relations:

1. The Santa Clause 2, $29 million
2. The Ring, $18.1 million
3. I-Spy, $12.8 million
4. Jackass: The Movie, $12.7 million
5. Ghost Ship, $6.7 million
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding, $5.6 million
7. Sweet Home Alabama, $4.6 million
8. Punch-Drunk Love, $4 million
9. Red Dragon, $2.7 million
10. Brown Sugar, $1.7 million

(Originally published 11/3/02 at 1:40 p.m. PT.)

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