‘Exorcist’ Scares Up a Big Turnout Again

The appeal of scary movies came through loud and clear this weekend at the box office. “Urban Legends: Final Cut,” which cost $14 million to produce, should make a tidy profit for Sony Pictures Entertainment. The teen fright movie debuted with $8.5 million in ticket sales.

But the weekend’s real surprise was the re-release of the 1973 horror classic “The Exorcist,” which grossed $8.2 million, averaging more than $12,000 per screen.

“Woman on Top” opened in 10th place with $2 million. “Under Suspicion,” “Uninvited Guest” and “Dancer in the Dark” all debuted in limited release.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Urban Legends: Final Cut” $8.5 2,539 1 (Sony/Columbia) $8.5 $3,350 2. “The Exorcist” * $8.2 664 1 (Warner Bros.) $8.4 $12,313 3. “Almost Famous” $6.9 1,193 2 (DreamWorks) $10.1 $5,806 4. “Bring It On” $4.3 2,457 5 (Universal) $56.0 $1,740 5. “The Watcher” $3.7 2,777 3 (Universal) $22.8 $1,320 6. “Bait” $3.4 2,352 2 (Warner Bros.) $10.6 $1,431 7. “Nurse Betty” $3.3 1,491 3 (USA Films) $18.0 $2,193 8. “What Lies Beneath” $2.2 1,819 10 (DreamWorks) $148.4 $1,205 9. “Space Cowboys” $2.16 2,170 8 (Warner Bros.) $85.1 $994 10. “Woman on Top” $2.0 1,085 1 (Fox Searchlight) $2.0 $1,851 “Under Suspicion” $109,863 19 1 (Lions Gate) $109,863 $5,782 “Uninvited Guest” $100,835 35 1 (Trimark/PMR Ent.) $100,835 $2,881 “Dancer in the Dark” $91,612 3 1 (Fine Line) $91,612 $30,537

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* Reissue; includes box office from test market in March

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.