Gladiator Reigns Over US BO

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgMore than doubling the gross of new comer BATTLEFIELD EARTH, GLADIATOR reins a top the U.S. box office for the second weekend. The DreamWorks’ epic, with primary special effects by Mill Film Ltd., grossed US$24.65 million. The Roman actioner has now made $73.66 million in just over a full week in release. The critically panned BATTLEFIELD EARTH finished in second despite reviews stating it is the worst film in years. The sci-fi flick based on a novel by L. Ron Hubbard grossed $11.55 million. Universal’s U-571 slipped a spot to third grossing another $5.74 million. The DAS BOOT-wannabe has a cume of $57.83 million. Finishing at fourth for the second straight week, New Line’s FREQUENCY took home receipts totaling $4.93 million. The time twisting tearjerker has grossed a total of $24.52 million. Proving that dinosaur-fart-jokes have an audience, THE FLINTSTONES VIVA ROCK VEGAS managed to finish in 5th place grossing another $4.64 million, which raised its cume to $24.41 million. New Line’s FINAL DESTINATION finished the weekend in 17th place with a gross of $1.11 million bringing its cume to $49.76 million. THE ROAD TO EL DORADO slipped to #18. The travel toon increased its gross from last weekend by 15% making $1.04 million. The DreamWorks' flick has eked out a moderate cume of $49.11 million. Other animated and special effects laden films finishing in the top fifty were: AMERICAN BEAUTY at #23, with a gross of $307,772 and a cume of $129.4 million; ROMEO MUST DIE at #26, with a gross of $241,301 and a cume of $54.77 million; PITCH BLACK at #29, with a gross of $172,832 and a cume of $38.89 million; TOY STORY 2 at #31, with a gross of $154,186 and a cume of $244.8 million; T-REX: BACK TO THE CRETACEOUS at #33, with a gross of $150,811 and a cume of $29.22 million; and ALIEN ADVENTURE at #41, with a gross of $68,555 and a cume of $0.78 million. Box office reports obtained in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.