Green Christmas

Hollywood's slow starting year at the box office had the industry squirming -- but 2000 had a big finish that can be summed up in a few words: ''Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.'' The holiday family film earned $253.4 million -- more than any other movie this year -- and it wasn't even released until November. Similarly, ''Cast Away,'' which opened only two weeks ago, has already sailed into the No. 17 position ($109.7 million) -- well above so called hits from last summer like the Jerry Bruckheimer produced car theft extravaganza ''Gone in 60 Seconds'' (No. 19; $101.6 million).

But there were a few highlights earlier this year. That the John Woo/ Tom Cruise sequel ''Mission: Impossible 2'' (No. 2; $215.4 mil) towered over the Memorial Day box office was hardly a shock. But ''Gladiator'''s (No. 3; $182.6 mil) lengthy bout in the arena proved to be quite impressive as it lifted Russell Crowe to demigod stature -- and knocked DreamWorks off the list of startup studios for good. Likewise, everyone was startled when the Wayans brothers' horror spoof ''Scary Movie'' (No. 7; $157 million) became the top grossing R rated film of all time. Too bad so much of that dough came from teens.

Here's a list of the top 50 movies of the year.

1. ''Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,'' Universal, $253.4 million
2. ''Mission: Impossible 2,'' Paramount, $215.4 million
3. ''Gladiator,'' DreamWorks, $186.6 million
4. ''The Perfect Storm,'' Warner Bros., $182.6 million
5. ''Meet the Parents,'' Universal, $161.3 million
6. ''X-Men,'' Fox, $157.3 million
7. ''Scary Movie,'' Miramax, $157 million
8. ''What Lies Beneath,'' DreamWorks, $155.4 million
9. ''Dinosaur,'' Disney, $137.7 million
10. ''Erin Brockovich,'' Universal, $125.5 million
11. ''Nutty Professor II: The Klumps,'' Universal $123.3 million
12. ''Charlie's Angels,'' Sony, $122.8 million
13. ''Big Momma's House,'' Fox, $117.6 million
14. ''What Women Want,'' Paramount, $115.7 million
15. ''Remember the Titans,'' Disney, $113.7 million
16. ''The Patriot,'' Sony, $113.3 million
17. ''Cast Away,'' Fox, $109.7 million
18. ''Chicken Run,'' DreamWorks, $106.8 million
19. ''Gone in 60 Seconds,'' Disney, $101.6 million
20. ''Me, Myself & Irene,'' Fox, $90.6 million
21. ''Space Cowboys,'' Warner Bros., $90.2 million
22. ''Unbreakable,'' Disney, $90 million
23. ''Scream 3,'' Miramax, $89.1 million
24. ''U-571,'' Universal, $77.1 million
25. ''Hollow Man,'' Sony $73.2
26. ''Rugrats in Paris: The Movie,'' Paramount, $71.2 million
27. ''Shaft,'' Paramount, $70.3 million
28. ''Disney's The Kid,'' Disney, $69.7 million
29. ''Road Trip,'' DreamWorks, $68.5 million
30. ''Bring It On,'' Universal, $68.4 million
31. ''Rules of Engagement,'' Paramount, $61.34 million
32. ''The Cell,'' New Line, $61.3 million
33. ''Mission to Mars,'' Disney, $60.9 million
34. ''Coyote Ugly,'' Disney, $60.8 million
35. ''Snow Day,'' Paramount, $60 million
36. ''102 Dalmatians,'' Disney, $58.3 million
37. ''The Whole Nine Yards,'' Warner Bros., $57.3 million
38. ''Next Friday,'' New Line, $57.2 million
39. ''Shanghai Noon,'' Disney, $56.9 million
40. ''Romeo Must Die,'' Warner Bros., $56 million
41. ''Final Destination,'' New Line, $53.3 million
42. ''Vertical Limit,'' Sony, $51.9 million
43. ''The Road to El Dorado,'' DreamWorks, $50.9 million
44. ''The Emperor's New Groove,'' Disney, $50.8 million
45. ''Men of Honor,'' Fox, $47.5 million
46. ''Miss Congeniality,'' Warner Bros., $46.4 million
47. ''The Tigger Movie,'' Disney, $45.6 million
48. ''Frequency,'' New Line, $45 million
49. ''The Replacements,'' Warner Bros., $44.7 million
50. ''Pokémon: The Movie 2000,'' Warner Bros., $43.8 million

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