THE IRON GIANT overlooked

It was a rough weekend for Warner Bros.' newly released THE IRON GIANT at the US boxoffice. THE IRON GIANT, directed by Brad Bird, was the first 100% animated film to be released since June's SOUTH PARK, but despite nearly unanimous praise from critics and fans, it finished a lackluster ninth with a gross of just $5.7 million. Other animation related films in the top ten: Buena Vista's newly released supernatural thriller THE SIXTH SENSE, with visual effects by Dream Quest, finished first, grossing an estimated $25.8 million; Warner Bros.' shark thriller, DEEP BLUE SEA, with digital effects by ILM and Cinesite, finished fifth, grossing an estimated $11 million for a total of $45.3 million; Universal's newly released superhero parody MYSTERY MEN, with digital effects by POP Film and Rhythm and Hues, finished sixth and grossed and estimated $10 million; The Walt Disney Company's INSPECTOR GADGET, with digital effects by DreamQuest, finished seventh, grossing an estimated $8.4 million for a total of $64 million; DreamWorks SKG's THE HAUNTING, with digital effects by ILM, finished eighth, grossing an estimated $6.3 million for a total of $77.2 million. Also, after twelve weeks in the top ten, Lucasfilm's STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE finished twelfth, grossing $2.2 million for a total of $412.8 million.