Weekend Box Office : ‘Fargo’ and ‘The Postman’ Cash In

Two films that did not make the weekend’s Top 10 scored surprise results. Gramercy’s “Fargo,” in its second week of release, was headed for a gross of $914,202, or about $15,760-per-screen average on 58 screens. Also, the Italian-language “The Postman (Il Postino),” which is nominated for best picture, actor, director and screenplay Oscars, was having its best weekend yet in its 40-week run. The Miramax film, starring the late Massimo Troisi and Philippe Noiret, grossed $729,550 on 347 screens, which equates to $2,102 per screen.

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Five-Day Gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “The Birdcage” $16.0 2,236 2 (MGM/UA) $41.3 $7,171 2. “Executive Decision” $12.0 2,232 1 (Warner Bros.) $12.0 $5,408 3. “Homeward Bound II” $5.7 2,129 2 (Walt Disney) $16.6 $2,658 4. “Up Close and Personal” $5.1 1,635 3 (Walt Disney) $30.0 $3,178 5. “Down Periscope” $2.9 1,936 3 (Fox) $18.3 $1,478 6. “Broken Arrow” $2.2 1,632 6 (Fox) $62.3 $1,346 7. “Mr. Holland’s Opus” $2.2 1,475 9 (Walt Disney) $69.9 $1,511 8. “Ed” $1.9 1,541 1 (Universal) $1.9 $1,240 9. “Rumble in the Bronx” $1.9 1,653 4 (New Line) $27.3 $1,151 10. “Happy Gilmore” $1.9 1,653 5 (Universal) $31.8 $1,120

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.