Kids Clobber Arnold Schwarzenegger
The weekend's number one movie should have been called How The Grinch Stole the Box Office, says CBS News Early Show Contributor Laurie Hibberd in her Box Office Plus report.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest film was only fourth.
"Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas had one of the best opening weekends ever," said Hibberd.
According to Hollywood.com The Grinch took in $55 million, despite lukewarm reviews. Another debut, the animated Rugrats In Paris, earned $23 million in a strong second place showing.
Charlie's Angels landed in third with $13 million.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Sixth Day and Bounce with Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow rounded out the top five.
Hibberd said there are many reasons why The Grinch did so well, even though it didn't get great reviews.
"The more practical reasons are it opened on 42,000 screens — that's more than what everybody else was on — and also, it was short so it could play more often," Hibberd explained. And it's "one of the classic Christmas stories of all time. Everybody loves it and everybody knows it, adult and child."
Finally, the movie had Jim Carrey's appeal. "And it is the Jim Carrey that everybody loves. This is the goofy, big Jim Carrey, not the serious one," said Hibberd.
The Grinch opening was important for Carrey, "especially after the poor showings of Me, Myself & Irene and Man On The Moon," Hibberd said.
"People were saying he's way over the top, he overreacts in this movie. How can you under-act? Put that costume on him, what else do you to expect?" Hibberd asked.
Considering the Grinch did so well, it's amazing that Rugrats In Paris: The Movie made a respectable $23 million.
"That says a lot about the power of kids," said Hibberd. She thinks Rugrats will do well over time.
"Everyone wanted to see The Grinch first and they'll see Rugrats this weekend," predicted Hibberd.
Meanwhile, Charlie's Angels dropped to number three.
"Don't cry for Charlie's Angels," said Hibberd. The movie will likely hit the $100 million mark soon. There's also talk of a sequel. "They're trying to get all the actors together. They have busy schedules but they're working on it now maybe for 2002. The bigger problem will be the budget," said Hibberd, because "They'll all want lots more money."
Bounce finished lower this weekend but Hibberd thinks "a lot of the mothers had to take their kids to see movies. Bounce may be the movie they (the mothers) see over the long weekend. Miramax is hoping: They're opening it on more screens."