'Panic Room' draws big crowds

LOS ANGELES -- Movie-goers were on full alert for "Panic Room."\nStarring Jodie Foster and Forest Whitaker, the thriller about a mother and daughter hiding from burglars in their home's fortress-like sanctuary took in $30.2 million to debut as the top weekend film, according to studio estimates Sunday.\nAmong other new films, Dennis Quaid's "The Rookie" had the strongest debut, opening in third place with $15.8 million. Quaid stars in the real-life story of Jim Morris, a science teacher in his mid-30s who finally achieved his life's goal of pitching in the major leagues.\nThe science-fiction tale "Clockstoppers," about a teen with a watch that can halt time, premiered in fifth place with $10.1 million. The movie was directed by Jonathan Frakes, who plays Will Riker in the "Star Trek" franchise.\nDanny DeVito's black comedy "Death to Smoochy," starring Robin Williams as a deposed children's show host seeking vengeance against his replacement (Edward Norton), tanked with just $4.3 million, coming in at No. 7.\nThe animated "Ice Age" became the first movie released this year to top $100 million. The film remained in the No. 2 spot for the second straight weekend with a weekend gross of $18.6 million, putting its 17-day total at $117.3 million.\n"Blade II," last weekend's No. 1 movie, fell to fourth place with $13.2 million, a steep 59 percent drop from opening weekend. The film has grossed $54.9 million in 10 days.\nCashing in on its best-picture win at the Academy Awards, "A Beautiful Mind" expanded to 1,560 theaters, up 105, and took in $4 million. Its total rose to $161 million.\n"The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" joined "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" as the only movies released in 2001 to hit the $300 million mark.\nThe top 12 films grossed $114.4 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend a year ago and continuing a run of unusually strong weekends in March.\n"This was the third weekend in a row with a movie opening over $30 million. That would be good news in the summer, let alone March," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "I think it's a strong indication of how big the summer's going to be."\nMovie receipts this year are running 13 to 14 percent ahead of 2001, when Hollywood posted record revenue of $8.4 billion domestically. Like last summer, this year's busy season is crowded with potential hits, including the new "Star Wars" and "Austin Powers" movies, "Spider-Man," "Men in Black 2," "Stuart Little 2," Tom Hanks' "The Road to Perdition" and Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise's "Minority Report."\n"Panic Room," directed by David Fincher ("Fight Club," "Seven"), drew an even mix of men and women and a good split between older and younger adults, said Jeff Blake, president of worldwide marketing and distribution for Sony, which released the film. About 60 percent of the audience was 25 and older, Blake said.\n"I think it really was a full-meal movie that appealed pretty equally all around, with a concept everybody can relate to," Blake said. "It's also Jodie Foster. She brings tremendous credibility."\nPlaying in 3,053 theaters, "Panic Room" averaged a healthy $9,892 a cinema, compared to $6,292 in 2,511 movie houses for "The Rookie," $3,976 at 2,540 sites for "Clockstoppers" and just $1,980 in 2,164 locations for "Death to Smoochy."\n"Smoochy" distributor Warner Bros. was "disappointed in the results, but at least we have positive word of mouth from those that attended," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution. "It's a dark comedy, and there are movies of this nature that started off slow but held on well week after week."\nEstimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.\n1. "Panic Room," $30.2 million.\n2. "Ice Age," $18.6 million.\n3. "The Rookie," $15.8 million.\n4. "Blade II," $13.2 million.\n5. "Clockstoppers," $10.1 million.\n6. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," $6.1 million.\n7. "Deathy to Smoochy," $4.3 million.\n8. "A Beautiful Mind," $4 million.\n9. "We Were Soldiers," $3.53 million.\n10. "Showtime," $3.5 million.