Weekend Box Office : ‘Pocahontas’ Inches Past ‘Batman’

In recent years, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. have battled each other annually for market-share supremacy, with the winner earning bragging rights as the most successful studio in Hollywood. This past weekend, the two companies squared off at the box office as their biggest summer movies raced neck and neck for the No. 1 spot.

On Sunday, Disney estimated that its animated film “Pocahontas” would take in $30.5 million between Friday and Sunday, while Warner Bros. estimated “Batman Forever” would gross $28.2 million. Then, early Monday, new estimates showed “Batman” had vaulted into the lead at $29.2 million. A “Batman” victory would have been a stunning blow to Disney, which has trumpeted “Pocahontas” with much fanfare.

But when the final numbers had come in, “Pocahontas” narrowly beat out the Caped Crusader, taking in $29.5 million.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Pocahontas” $29.5 2,569 2 (Disney) $34.5 $11,495 2. “Batman Forever” $29.2 2,893 2 (Warner Bros.) $106.6 $10,097 3. “Congo” $8.1 2,676 3 (Paramount) $58 $3,021 4. “Bridges of Madison County” $6.2 1,961 4 (Warner Bros.) $46.3 $3,164 5. “Casper” $4.9 2,544 5 (Universal) $75.3 $1,930 6. “Braveheart” $4 1,885 5 (Paramount) $47.1 $2,146 7. “Die Hard With a Vengeance” $3.9 1,936 6 (Fox) $85.1 $2,025 8. “Crimson Tide” $3.1 1,540 7 (Hollywood/Disney) $80.9 $2,021 9. “Forget Paris” $1.8 1,048 6 (Castle Rock/Columbia) $29.6 $1,730 10. “While You Were Sleeping” $1.5 1,001 10 (Hollywood/Disney) $70.8 $1,474

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.