Theater doors swing open for Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut’

Sunday, July 18, 1999 | 11:45 a.m.

The lowbrow sex comedy "American Pie" fell to second with $13.3 million, while Adam Sandler's "Big Daddy" remained at third with $10.5 million.

There were three other new films over the weekend. The mouth-wide-open crocodile flick "Lake Placid" opened in fourth with $10.2 million. "The Wood," the story of a bridegroom and two friends reminiscing about growing up in Inglewood, Calif., debuted at sixth with $8.6 million.

And "Muppets From Space," featuring Jim Henson's creations searching for intelligent life in the cosmos, was 10th with an opening weekend of $5.1 million and earning $7 million since it hit theaters Wednesday.

Meanwhile, "Wild Wild West" was fifth with $10 million, zeroing in on the $100 million mark after taking in just over $94 million in 19 days.

The final film of Kubrick, who died in March, "Eyes Wide Shut" already has grossed roughly half the total box office for Kubrick's last two movies, "Full Metal Jacket" in 1987 and "The Shining" in 1980. In one weekend, "Eyes Wide Shut" also made more than the Kubrick films "Dr. Strangelove" and "Lolita" combined.

Fiercely protective of his work, Kubrick kept details of the film under tight wraps. Warner Bros. followed suit after his death with a cryptic marketing campaign intended to intrigue viewers without telling them anything about the plot.

Details did leak out about the film's nudity and explicit sex scenes, especially a segment where a costumed Cruise crashes a ritzy, ritualized orgy.

To avoid an NC-17 rating for the U.S. release, Kubrick digitally added images of partygoers to the finished film to hide some harder-core sex scenes. The more graphic version will be shown overseas.

The sexual subject matter, the star power of Cruise, Kidman and Kubrick, and the fact that it was the director's final film virtually guaranteed a good opening weekend for "Eyes Wide Shut." The question now is the staying power for a film that runs nearly three hours and is, despite its racy plot, an intellectual study of marital fidelity.

"It's not your typical summer movie," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc., which tracks box-office numbers. "Warner did tremendous marketing, but the staying power totally depends on the word of mouth."

The surprise of the weekend was "The Blair Witch Project," a horror movie told through videotape shot by three filmmakers who disappear in a forest while searching for a legendary witch. "Star Wars"-like crowds lined up at the 27 theaters where "Blair Witch" was playing, and the movie averaged a whopping $57,407 a screen, compared with "Eyes Wide Shut," which played in 2,411 theaters for an average of $9,457.

The movie cost just $350,000 to produce and has made $1.6 million since opening Wednesday. Artisan Entertainment plans to release it in 700 to 800 theaters by July 30, said Artisan president Amir Malin.

"It's a frightening film that just connects," Malin said. "I think people are looking for something completely different that entertains them and at the same time challenges them."

Studio executives said it was an eclectic weekend for film openings, with something for everyone.

"We knew we really had the upscale, sophisticated audience," said Dan Feldman, president of distribution for Warner Bros., which released "Eyes Wide Shut."

For the action crowd, there was "Lake Placid," starring Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda and Oliver Platt in the "Jaws"-like story of a 30-foot crocodile that churns and chomps its way through the waters - and some of the people - at a lake in Maine.

"The Wood" was aimed at a black audience and is described by Rob Friedman, vice chairman of Paramount's motion picture group, as "'The Big Chill' meets soul food."

Estimated grosses for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures are to be released Monday.

1. "Eyes Wide Shut," $22.8 million.

2. "American Pie," $13.3 million.

3. "Big Daddy," $10.5 million.

4. "Lake Placid," $10.2 million.

5. "Wild Wild West," $10 million.

6. "The Wood," $8.6 million.

7. "Tarzan," $7.4 million.

8. "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," $5.3 million.

9. "The General's Daughter," $5.2 million.

10. "Muppets From Space," $5.1 million.

archive