''The Sixth Sense'' is the movie that will not die. For the third week in a row it has held on to the top spot at the box office (tying ''The Phantom Menace'''s streak), dropping a measly 6 percent, to take in another estimated $24.1 million, for a to-date gross of $107.7 million. The key to ''Sense'''s success is its surprise ending: Not only is it inciting people to recommend the film to others, but many are going back a second time to see how the director set them up for the final twist.
None of this week's new releases provided much of a challenge for ''Sense.'' ''Mickey Blue Eyes'' debuted in third place with $10.4 million, not enough to beat out the $10.7 million take for the reigning comedy, ''Bowfinger,'' which held onto second place. ''Runaway Bride'' ($9.3 million) and ''The Blair Witch Project'' ($7.1 million) finished up the top 5.
Meanwhile, Jean-Claude Van Damme didn't exactly kick it at the box office, with ''Universal Soldier: The Return'' opening in seventh place, with $4.7 million. The biggest loser, however, was ''Teaching Mrs. Tingle,'' which showed up in 10th place with only $3.5 million. Perhaps its writer/director, Kevin Williamson of ''Dawson's Creek'' fame, has learned a lesson that high school teachers have known for years: Just because you're good at talking to the teens doesn't mean they'll always listen.
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