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Hobbits will beat up ''Gangs'' at the box office | 162348__lotrbop_l
FEELING THE LOVE Adoring fans will likely push ''Two'' to No. 1
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Pierre Vinet
By Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger, a senior writer at EW, also reports on box office and other movie- related matters on NBC's ''Today''

This is the weekend that ''Two'' will become One. That is, ''The Two Towers'' will become No. 1 at the box office.

A year after ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' premiered on its way to becoming the No. 2 film of 2001 (behind ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone''), its sequel hits theaters to massive audience interest. ''Fellowship'' opened with $47.2 million over its three-day weekend and $75.1 million for its five-day debut (Wednesday through Sunday). Thanks to the tremendous success of the first film and the terrific buzz this time around (including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture), ''Two Towers''' take should easily surpass that. Expect ''Towers,'' which opened on a Wednesday, to amass $55 million over three days and $90 million over five.

Second place could go to Martin Scorsese's long-awaited ''Gangs of New York,'' another Golden Globe Best Picture nominee. The period drama, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz, is only opening in about 1,500 theaters, but fans are sure to seek it out. A strong $13 million debut is likely.

That would leave the Sandra Bullock/Hugh Grant romantic comedy ''Two Weeks Notice'' in third place. Coming just after ''Maid in Manhattan,'' ''Two Weeks'' doesn't seem to have the same anticipation level as J. Lo's flick did. Still, its wide 2,500-theater release should result in an $11 million debut, just ahead of ''Manhattan's'' second week, which will be in the $10 million range.

Fighting for fifth place will be two returning films and one debut. Last week's ''Star Trek: Nemesis'' and ''Drumline'' each stand to fall to about $8 million, and the new family cartoon ''The Wild Thornberrys Movie'' could debut with the same amount. Too bad there are no hobbits in that one.


Posted Dec 20, 2002 | Order Article Reprints