Box Office Pikachu

By: Steve Biodrowski
Date: Monday, November 15, 1999

Well, we all knew kids loved it, but no one quite knew how much until the weekend box office estimates came in. POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE, which opened on Wednesday, November 10, earned $52.1-million in its first five days--breaking the record for a November opening previously held by A BUG'S LIFE ($45.7-million). Its Friday-to-Sunday take of $32.4-million surpassed THE $23.7-million earned by the previous record-holder for a non-Disney animated opening weekend, THE RUGRATS. The per screen average for the first-place winner was a whopping $10,647.

In second place was THE BONE COLLECTOR, with $12-million. The debut of Kevin Smith's DOGMA was not dogged by controversy at the box office: it took in a neat $8.8-million for third place. Perhaps Miramax films now regrets getting cold feet over the film and handing off distribution to Lions Gate, who stand to make a tidy profit.

The weekend's other genre newcomer, THE MESSENGER, fell on deaf ears, taking in on $6.3-million; long term prospects are not promising for the fourth-place winner.

Also in the top ten were two other genre films: HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL landed in the #8 spot with $4.4-million, and THE SIXTH SENSE landed in 10th with $2.7-million.