Snipes Helps Power ‘Blade’ to No. 1

Wesley Snipes again proved his worth as an action star as “Blade” opened at No. 1, dislodging “Saving Private Ryan,” which had been in first place for four consecutive weeks. New Line Cinema’s “Blade” grossed $17.1 million, compared with “Ryan’s” $10.1 million for DreamWorks.

Both “Dead Man on Campus” from Paramount Pictures and “Dance With Me” from Columbia Pictures debuted with modest success.

Meanwhile, the new Leslie Nielsen spoof, “Wrongfully Accused,” didn’t crack the top 10 list ($3.5 million), while “The Avengers” took in $3.7 million, a 64% plunge from its opening last weekend--both dismal news for Warner Bros.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average 1. “Blade” $17.1 2,322 (New Line) $17.1 $7,353 2. “Saving Private Ryan” $10.1 2,671 (DreamWorks) $142.7 $3,797 3. “There’s Something About Mary” $7.7 2,192 (Fox) $104.0 $3,508 4. “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” $6.5 1,399 (Fox) $22.2 $4,628 5. “Snake Eyes” $5.0 2,642 (Paramount) $40.5 $1,910 6. “Dead Man on Campus” $4.7 1,797 (Paramount) $4.7 $2,618 7. “Ever After” $4.6 1,864 (Fox) $42.3 $2,455 8. “Dance With Me” $4.5 1,467 (Sony/Columbia) $4.5 $3,073 9. “The Parent Trap” $3.9 2,169 (Disney) $51.1 $1,792 10. “The Avengers” $3.7 2,466 (Warner Bros.) $17.8 $1,486

Weeks in Movie (Studio) Release 1. “Blade” 1 (New Line) 2. “Saving Private Ryan” 5 (DreamWorks) 3. “There’s Something About Mary” 6 (Fox) 4. “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” 1 (Fox) 5. “Snake Eyes” 3 (Paramount) 6. “Dead Man on Campus” 1 (Paramount) 7. “Ever After” 4 (Fox) 8. “Dance With Me” 1 (Sony/Columbia) 9. “The Parent Trap” 4 (Disney) 10. “The Avengers” 2 (Warner Bros.)

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.