‘American Pie’ Cuts Biggest Slice

The low-budget, R-rated teen sex comedy “American Pie” toppled “Wild Wild West” from the top spot at the weekend box office, grossing $18.7 million, a figure that should bring smiles at resurgent Universal Studios.

Meanwhile, “Arlington Road,” a tense thriller about a right-wing conspiracy to bomb the FBI headquarters in Washington, brought in $7.5 million on its maiden weekend for Sony’s new label, Screen Gems.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “American Pie” $18.7 2,508 1 (Universal) $18.7 $7,460 2. “Wild Wild West” $16.8 3,342 2 (Warner Bros.) $76.6 $5,037 3. “Big Daddy” $16.0 3,254 3 (Sony/Columbia) $116.5 $4,926 4. “Tarzan” $10.8 3,131 4 (Disney) $129.0 $3,453 5. “The $7.9 2,710 4 General’s Daughter” (Paramount) $79.2 $2,926 6. “Arlington Road” $7.52 1,631 1 (Sony/Screen Gems) $7.5 $4,608 7. “Star Wars” $7.49 2,447 8 (Fox) $385.2 $3,061 8. “South Park” $7.1 2,128 2 (Paramount) $35.5 $3,319 9. “Austin Powers” $6.8 2,608 5 (New Line) $182.5 $2,618 10. “Summer of Sam” $3.5 1,536 2 (Disney/Touchstone) $14.1 $2,257

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.