Weekend Box Office : ‘Dragon’ Makes ‘Dave’ Vice President

Early May is always a slow period for moviegoing--sort of the lull before the big summer releases. But into this gap came “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story,” which scored an impressive $10 million in its debut. Not nearly as big as openings in busier seasons, the $15-million production nevertheless reached a record for early May. Universal Pictures said the film extended beyond the usual martial arts fans to a wider audience.

Not quite a landslide was the political satire “Dave,” which scored $7.2 million and the highest per-theater average of films in wide release. “Indecent Proposal” fell to third after four weekends at the top.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” $10 1,887 1 (Universal) $10 $5,310 2. “Dave” $7.3 1,155 1 (Warner Bros.) $7.3 $6,326 3. “Indecent Proposal” $4.6 1,922 5 (Paramount) $78.4 $2,416 4. “Sidekicks” $2.3 1,223 5 (Triumph) $8.2 $1,840 5. “Benny & Joon” $1.9 1,314 4 (MGM) $15.1 $1,449 6. “Indian Summer” $1.7 1,383 3 (Touchstone) $10 $1,236 7. “Sandlot” $1.54 1,624 5 (Fox) $23 $950 8. “Who’s the Man?” $1.08 954 3 (New Line) $9 $1,141 9. “Cop and a Half” $1.01 1,522 6 (Universal) $24.3 $665 10. “Three of Hearts” $927,235 793 2 (New Line) $3.5 $1,169 * “Much Ado About Nothing” $108,617 3 1 (Samuel Goldwyn) $108,617 $36,206

* This lusty new version of Shakespeare’s comedy opened to a sharp $36,206 per screen in three New York theaters. It hits Los Angeles Friday.

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.