Weekend Box Office

Sony’s sci-fi movie “The Fifth Element” combined visual effects with the drawing power of action star Bruce Willis to lead the competition at this weekend’s box office, opening with $17 million in ticket sales.

Jeff Blake, president of Sony Pictures Releasing, said the trick to successfully opening a science-fiction movie is to hook the sci-fi audience. “They either support you or they don’t,” Blake said. “When they do, they come right away. You have to be true to the genre.” But a film can’t succeed just with a sci-fi audience, Blake added. “You have to make sure you have a wider audience.”

The Warner Bros. comedy “Fathers’ Day,” starring Robin Williams and Billy Crystal, opened to a disappointing $8.8 million. Industry sources say the film didn’t bring in the crucial under-35 crowd and may have been hurt by mixed reviews.

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Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1.”The Fifth Element” $17.0 2,500 1 (Sony/Columbia) $17.0 $6,813 2.”Fathers’ Day” $8.8 2,482 1 (Warner Bros.) $8.8 $3,536 3.”Breakdown” $7.6 2,295 2 (Paramount) $23.2 $3,319 4.”Austin Powers: $7.1 2,187 2 International Man of Mystery” $19.5 $3,230 (New Line) 5.”Volcano” $4.5 2,650 3 (Fox) $34.1 $1,696 6.”Liar Liar” $3.6 2,312 8 (Universal) $156.5 $1,565 5.”Romy and Michele’s $2.9 1,606 3 High School Reunion” $19.1 $1,804 (Disney/Touchstone) 8.”Anaconda” $2.7 2,302 5 (Sony/Columbia) $53.1 $1,158 9.”The Saint” $1.6 1,730 6 (Paramount) $54.8 $903 10.”Murder at 1600” $1.3 1,504 4 (Warner Bros.) $21.7 $862

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.