"Patch Adams" set a Christmas record with an estimated $25.3 million opening weekend, beating 1996's "Michael" ($17.4 million). While many critics weren't too fond of the Robin Williams medical comedy (EW diagnosed it with an F), 9 percent of audiences surveyed called it either "excellent" or "very good." The Susan Sarandon/Julia Roberts weeper "Stepmom," meanwhile, pulled in $19.4 million to finish second. "You've Got Mail" came in third at $19.1 million.

The other new films that opened wide didn't fare quite so well: "The Faculty" ended in fourth place with $11.8 million, and "Mighty Joe Young" took sixth with $10.9 million. (Holdover "The Prince of Egypt" took fourth with $15.3 million.)

Things look bright, however, for high-profile limited releases that popped up in New York and L.A. to qualify for this year's Academy Awards. "A Civil Action" took in $68,000 in only two theaters (compare the $34,000 per-screen average with "Patch Adams"' $9,315), and "The Thin Red Line" earned more than $292,000 in five locations ($58,472 per screen). Although the future looks promising for both movies, "Action" is a more mainstream film and has a better chance in wide release than "Red Line," which profited from film buffs' enthusiasm for reclusive director Terrence Malick's first flick in 20 years.