LOS ANGELES -- Mel Gibson's ''The Passion of the Christ'' tookin $51.4 million in its second weekend to remain the top movie,racing past the $200 million mark in just 12 days.
Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's action comedy ''Starsky &Hutch'' debuted in second place with $29.05 million, while ViggoMortensen's horse-racing adventure ''Hidalgo'' opened at No. 3 with$19.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
''The Passion,'' Gibson's bloody re-enactment of Christ'scrucifixion, has grossed $212 million so far in the United Statesand Canada. The movie is expected to top $300 million, said BobBerney, president of Newmarket Films. The independent distributorwas hired by Gibson to release ''The Passion'' after Hollywoodstudios passed on it.
The film, which stars Jim Caviezel as Christ, held up strongly,with receipts down just 39 percent from its huge opening weekend of$83.8 million. Movies debuting to such high numbers often drop 50percent or more in their second weekends.
''The Passion'' propelled Hollywood to a second straight weekendof rising revenues after a prolonged slump. The top 12 moviesgrossed $131.5 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend lastyear.
Before ''The Passion'' opened, box-office revenues had beenrunning 7 percent behind last year's. Two big weekends for ''ThePassion'' have pulled the industry virtually even with last year'sreceipts, according to box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
The Academy Awards gave a solid bounce to best-picture winner''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,'' which climbedback into the top 10 with $3.2 million, raising its total to $368.3million.
''The Passion'' rode a storm of debate over its grisly violenceand accusations of anti-Semitism to become the first religiousblockbuster since the 1950s epics ''The Ten Commandments'' and''Ben-Hur.''
Its success indicates Christian crowds rarely targeted byfilmmakers will flock to theaters when a movie suits them.
''I think it does show there's an ignored market, but the way Ilook at it, it's film by film. To make this work, you have to havea brilliant film. The audience is very discerning,'' Berneysaid.
In the next week, ''The Passion'' will climb past the $228million total take for ''Signs,'' the top-grossing movie Gibson hasbeen connected with. Even adjusting Gibson's ''Lethal Weapon''grosses for inflation, ''The Passion'' will be his biggest hit.
''Here's one of the most popular movie stars in the world. Whowould have thought he would out-gross all his big summerblockbusters with a movie about the crucifixion?'' said PaulDergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations.
After studios declined to handle ''The Passion,'' Gibsonorchestrated a marketing scheme that rallied Christian leaders andchurch groups, which spread the word and snapped up blocks oftickets.
Fueling the frenzy was criticism from some Jewish and Christianleaders, who said ''The Passion'' could revive the notion that Jewscollectively were responsible for Christ's death.
''Starsky & Hutch,'' an update of the 1970s TV show, starsStiller and Wilson as buddy cops hunting a cocaine dealer.''Hidalgo'' stars Mortensen as an Old West cowboy who becomes thefirst Westerner invited to compete in a horse race across theArabian desert.
''Starsky & Hutch'' distributor Warner Bros. and ''Hidalgo''studio Disney were happy to finish a distant second and third to''The Passion.''
''I've never seen anything quite like 'The Passion,''' saidDisney head of distribution Chuck Viane. ''To have two other moviescome in and open as strongly as they did in the face of asteamroller, you can't complain.''
Here are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday atNorth American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.Final figures will be released Monday.
1. ''The Passion of the Christ,'' $51.4 million.
2. ''Starsky & Hutch,'' $29.05 million.
3. ''Hidalgo,'' $19.6 million.
4. ''50 First Dates,'' $7.7 million.
5. ''Twisted,'' $5 million.
6. ''Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen,'' $4 million.
7. ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,'' $3.2million.
8. ''Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights,'' $2.85 million.
9. ''Miracle,'' $2.6 million.
10. ''Monster,'' $2.25 million.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
