Not So Fast, ‘Attack of the Clones’

Twentieth Century Fox overestimated the three-day opening weekend gross of “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” by $6 million, but George Lucas’ much-anticipated science-fiction saga still easily captured the No. 1 spot at the box office.

Instead of $86.2 million, which the media hyped all day Sunday, the movie actually took in $80 million. That’s the third-best three-day opening in history behind Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man” and Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” The film also achieved the second-fastest sprint to the magical $100-million mark--a mere four days. The film, which opened Thursday, has grossed $110.2 million through Sunday.

Meanwhile, Universal’s romantic comedy “About a Boy,” starring Hugh Grant, opened in fourth place with $8.6 million.

*--* Weekend Box Office Movie (Studio) Three-day Screens/ Average Weeks in Release gross/ Total (millions) 1 “Star Wars: $80.0 3,161 1 Episode II Attack of the Clones”* (Fox) $110.2 $25,317 2 “Spider-Man” $45.0 3,615 3 (Sony/Columbia) $285.6 $12,458 3 “Unfaithful” $10.0 2,624 2 (Fox) $29.5 $3,816 4 “About a Boy” $8.6 1,207 1 (Universal) $8.6 $7,090 5 “The New Guy” $6.5 2,687 2 (Sony/Columbia) $17.3 $2,411 6 “Changing $3.1 2,158 6 Lanes” (Paramount) $61.6 $1,440 7 “The Scorpion $2.9 2,555 5 King” (Universal) $85.2 $1,140 8 “The Rookie” $1.7 1,849 8 (Disney) $70.5 $934 9 “Murder by $1.67 1,580 5 Numbers” (Warner Bros.) $29.9 $1,059 10 “My Big Fat $1.1 275 5 Greek Wedding” (IFC Films) $5.7 $4,128 *Opened Thursday Source: Exhibitor Relations Co

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