A Midweek Record for ‘Clones’: $30.1 Million

Will the clones catch Spidey? That remains to be seen, but the latest “Star Wars” installment, “Episode II Attack of the Clones,” debuted Thursday in 3,161 theaters on approximately 6,000 screens for a record midweek total of $30.1 million, according to Bruce Snyder, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox, averaging about $9,500 a theater. That figure includes sold-out Wednesday midnight screenings, which Snyder estimated contributed as much as $6 million to the total.

As Yoda would say, “Strong business for a Thursday, that is,” even better than the previous record $28.5-million Wednesday start for “Episode I The Phantom Menace,” exactly three years ago, although “Phantom” was in about 200 fewer theaters and on about 500 fewer screens.

“It’s an absolutely fantastic opening, especially for a Thursday, which is the bottom of the rung for the box-office week,” said Dan Marks, box-office analyst for Nielsen EDI. “A $30-million debut,” added Paul Dergarabedian of the industry tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, “means that between 5 [million] and 6 million people went to see a movie on a Thursday at a time when kids are still in school.”

Ticket prices nationwide average about $5.50.

“Clones” hit with the same impact as “Phantom,” which opened in 1999 with a lavish marketing campaign after a 16-year lull in the franchise.

The selling of “Clones” has been much more measured, and director-producer George Lucas has sought to distance his film from comparisons with “Spider-Man,” which shattered all records with its $114.8-million debut two weeks ago. Even though die-hard followers had been disappointed in George Lucas’ first part of the prequel, the opening-day numbers indicated the core fan base was more than willing to give Lucas’ pop-culture phenomenon the benefit of the doubt.

Going into the weekend, advance sales indicate a high level of admissions for “Clones,” which already has sold more than 400,000 preordered tickets just on the Internet, more than “Spider-Man,” before its release.

If “Clones” does as well as expected or better, it would be among the better openings of all time. “Spider-Man” currently holds the record, followed by the $90.3-million “Harry Potter” opening last November. Both of those films, however, were on many more screens--about 7,500 for “Spider-Man” and 8,000 for “Potter.”

Lucasfilm, which produced “Attack of the Clones,” is opening the film in 74 countries over the weekend as well, including most of Europe.

As for “Spider-Man,” starring Tobey Maguire, its cumulative gross stood at more than $240 million after only 14 days in theaters. Its second weekend was down less than 40% to $71.4 million, a record for a second weekend.