The dark divorce comedy "The War of the Roses" jumped to the No. 1 spot at the nation's theaters over the New Year's weekend, and Hollywood concluded its best year ever with ticket sales in excess of $5 billion.
Directed by Danny DeVito and starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, "The War of the Roses" collected $10.5 million over the four-day holiday weekend, according to figures released by Exhibitor Relations Co.The box-office receipts in excess of $5 billion for 1989 broke the previous record of $4.46 billion from 1988. The year's top film was "Batman," with $251.2 million. (See the Hicks on Flicks column.)
"Tango & Cash," the police buddy picture with Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone, finished second this past week with ticket sales of $9.6 million.
Disney's animated "The Little Mermaid" continued its strong run, landing in third with receipts of $9.2 million. In fourth was the time-travel sequel "Back to the Future Part II," with a gate of $8.14 million. The movie should join the $100 million box-office club next weekend.
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" collapsed from first place to fifth with $8.09 million. In sixth was Steven Spielberg's "Always," a remake of the 1940s film "A Guy Named Joe," on grosses of $7.1 million.
The ensemble drama "Steel Magnolias" was seventh with a take of $6.2 million, with the striptease drama "Blaze" in eighth on $3.9 million. The baby comedy "Look Who's Talking" was ninth with $3.8 million and "The Wizard" was 10th with $2.7 million.
In limited release, the hit film continues to be "Born on the Fourth of July," which made $492,236 in eight theaters nationwide for a spectacular per-screen average of $61,530. The docu-comedy "Roger & Me" collected $364,760 on nine theaters.
The Holocaust-based drama "Enemies, a Love Story" made $270,042 on 10 screens and the Civil War epic "Glory" netted $163,824 on six screens.
Here are the top movie ticket sales as tallied by Exhibitor Relations:
1. "THE WAR OF THE ROSES," $10.5 million ($43.8 million, four weeks).
2. "Tango & Cash," $9.6 million ($21.8 million, two weeks).
3. "The Little Mermaid," $9.2 million ($49.4 million, seven weeks).
4. "Back to the Future Part II," $8.14 million ($95.2 million, six weeks).
5. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," $8.09 million ($57.8 million, five weeks).
6. "Always," $7.1 million ($14.3 million, two weeks).
7. "Steel Magnolias," $6.2 million ($44.6 million, seven weeks).
8. "Blaze," $3.9 million ($10.1 million, three weeks).
9. "Look Who's Talking," $3.8 million ($115.2 million, 12 weeks).
10. "The Wizard," $2.7 million ($9 million, three weeks).