The “Addams Family” sequel won the weekend box office hands-down, but its relatively modest $14.1 million gross leaves the movie’s future in the lurch.
Hollywood prognosticators were expecting an opening take of close to $20 million, given that “Addams Family Values” debuted on a staggering 2,577 screens.
“The Piano” played strongly, finishing 10th with $1.5 million despite appearing in a scant 99 theater locations in its first national weekend. Starring Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel, “The Piano” is a study of passion and music from Australian director Jane Campion.
In second behind “Addams Family Values” was “The Three Musketeers,” which brought in $8 million. Dropping 35 percent from a week ago was “Carlito’s Way,” third with $5.9 million.
Here are the weekend’s top 20 films, according to Exhibitor Relations. Estimated ticket sales are from Friday through Sunday, with distributor, weekend gross, number of North American theater locations, average per location, total gross and number of weeks in release.
More Top Picks Best Water Purifiers For Backpacking
Figures are based on actual receipts or projections where actual figures were not available.
1. “Addams Family Values,” Paramount, $14.1 million, 2,577 locations, $5,478 per location, $14.1 million, one week.
2. “The Three Musketeers,” Disney, $8 million, 2,098 locations, $3,821 per location, $21.5 million, two weeks.
3. “Carlito’s Way,” Universal, $5.9 million, 1,634 locations, $3,615 per location, $17.9 million, two weeks.
4. “My Life,” Columbia, $5.3 million, 1,290 locations, $4,120 per location, $12.4 million, two weeks.
5. “Man’s Best Friend,” New Line, $3.9 million, 1,220 locations, $3,165 per location, $3.9 million, one week.
6. “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Disney, $3.3 million, 1,601 locations, $2,050 per location, $38.9 million, six weeks.
7. “The Remains of the Day,” Columbia, $2.7 million, 517 locations, $5,283 per location, $7.4 million, three weeks.
8. “Cool Runnings,” Disney, $2.5 million, 1,525 locations, $1,612 per location, $51.5 million, eight weeks.
9. “The Beverly Hillbillies,” 20th Century Fox, $2 million, 1,642 locations, $1,209 per location, $36.9 million, six weeks.
10. “The Piano,” Miramax, $1.5 million, 99 locations, $15,175 per location, $1.8 million, two weeks.
11. “Rudy” TriStar, $1.2 million, 1,066 locations, $1,151 per location, $20 million, six weeks.
12. “Look Who’s Talking Now,” TriStar, $1.01 million, 1,661 locations, $612 per location, $8.9 million, three weeks.
13. “The Joy Luck Club,” Disney, $1 million, 531 locations, $1,888 per location, $28 million, 11 weeks.
14. “Malice,” Columbia, $901,000, 817 locations, $1,102 per location, $43.8 million, eight weeks.
15. “Demolition Man,” Warner Bros., $900,000, 944 locations, $954 per location, $53.7 million, seven weeks.
16. “Flesh and Bone,” Paramount, $856,000, 1,089 locations, $786 per location, $9.1 million, three weeks.
17. “Robocop 3,” Orion, $772,000, 933 locations, $827 per location, $8.9 million, three weeks.
18. “Sleepless in Seattle,” TriStar, $724,000, 686 locations, $1,056 per location, $124.1 million, 22 weeks.
19. “Fearless,” Warner Bros., $466,000, 352 locations, $1,325 per location, $6.3 million, six weeks.
20. “Gettysburg,” New Line, $446,000, 240 locations, $1,860 per location, $7.5 million, seven weeks.
More Top Picks Best Fume Extractors