‘Broken Arrow’ Hits All the Targets

For the sixth straight week, box office was up over 1995, with John Woo’s action-laden “Broken Arrow,” starring John Travolta and Christian Slater, turning in the biggest opening of the year.

“This was the top side of what we were hoping for,” said Bob Harper, president of marketing for 20th Century Fox. “The movie played to all four quadrants of the marketplace--men and women, younger and older. Slater brought in the young audience, Woo is a favorite of action aficionados and Travolta helps, in general. And because ‘Broken Arrow’ was also extraordinarily well reviewed for an action picture, people in upscale areas who don’t normally head for this type of picture turned out.”

Though “Black Sheep,” “White Squall” and “The Juror” dropped considerably in their second week out, the feel-good “Mr. Holland’s Opus” held strong. Riding pre-Oscar buzz and excellent reviews, MGM’s “Leaving Las Vegas,” Columbia’s “Sense and Sensibility” and Gramercy’s “Dead Man Walking” continued to build.

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Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Broken Arrow” $ 15.6 2,388 1 (Fox) $15.6 $6,526 2. “Mr. Holland’s Opus” $6.8 1,659 4 (Disney/Hollywood) $40.3 $4,072 3. “Black Sheep” $6.5 2,092 2 (Paramount) $19.3 $3,100 4. “The Juror” $4.4 2,205 2 (Columbia) $15.1 $2,004 5. “Leaving Las Vegas” $3.3 1,310 16 (MGM/UA) $15.4 $2,483 6. “Dead Man Walking” $2.9 821 7 (Gramercy) $13.9 $3,513 7. “Beautiful Girls” $2.8 752 1 (Miramax) $2.8 $3,672 8. “Bed of Roses” $2.7 1,533 3 (New Line) $15.1 $1,759 9. “Sense and Sensibility” $2.4 952 9 (Columbia) $24.3 $2,525 10. “White Squall” $2.4 1,524 2 (Disney/Hollywood) $7.4 $1,545

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.