LOS ANGELES (AP) - The buddy-cop sequel starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker grossed $66.8 million in its first three days, the biggest comedy debut ever and the third-best non-holiday opening on record, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The top non-holiday debut came just last weekend when "Planet of the Apes" grossed $68.5 million. "The Mummy Returns" is No. 2 with $68.1 million. "Planet of the Apes" followed the pattern of many other big studio movies this summer, opening to huge crowds but taking a nosedive in the second weekend. It fell to second place with $28.5 million, a steep 58 percent decline from the previous weekend. "Planet of the Apes" has grossed $124.7 million in 10 days.
Disney's G-rated modern fairy tale "The Princess Diaries" had a strong third-place debut of $23.2 million. The movie stars Julie Andrews as a queen tutoring her reluctant granddaughter (Anne Hathaway) in the ways of royalty. "Original Sin," a romantic thriller starring Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie that was trashed by critics, had a weak sixth-place debut of $6.4 million.
Playing in 2,194 theaters, "Original Sin" averaged just $2,917 a cinema, compared to $21,424 in 3,118 locations for "Rush Hour 2." "Princess Diaries" averaged $9,145 in 2,537 theaters.
"Apocalypse Now Redux," Francis Ford Coppola's new version of his Vietnam War epic, took in a whopping $96,000 playing in just two theaters in New York City and Los Angeles, plus a once-a-day screening at a large-screen Imax theater. The film, which adds 49 minutes of previously unreleased footage, expands to the top 20 markets over the next two weekends.
The opening for "Rush Hour 2" was double the $33 million the first movie grossed in its debut weekend in September 1998. It brought back much of the behind-the-camera talent from the original movie, including director Brett Ratner. "There's that old expression, if it's not broken, don't mess with it, and that's exactly what they did with this one," said David Tuckerman, head of distribution for New Line, which released "Rush Hour 2." The industry remains on track to break its revenue record of $3 billion set in summer 1999. For this weekend, the top 12 movies grossed $163.9 million, up 39 percent from the same weekend last year.
Hollywood typically front-loads its biggest films toward the beginning of summer, but hits have been spread throughout the season this year, including the normally quiet late July and August. "Rush Hour 2" shattered the record for best August debut ever, previously held by "The Sixth Sense" with $26.7 million. "This to me sets a new precedent for the month of August as a blockbuster-producing month," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks movie attendance. "Patience is a virtue in this case, and they've reaped the benefits."
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures are to be released Monday.
1. "Rush Hour 2," $66.8 million
2. "Planet of the Apes," $28.5 million
3. "The Princess Diaries," $23.2 million
4. "Jurassic Park III," $12.1 million
5. "America's Sweethearts," $8.4 million
6. "Original Sin," $6.4 million
7. "Legally Blonde," $6.1 million
8. "The Score," $5.0 million
9. "Cats & Dogs," $2.3 million
10. "Dr. Dolittle 2," $2.1 million.
