‘Waterworld’ Tops Julia, ‘Babe’

Julia Roberts making a comeback, Denzel Washington battling a computer creation and even a pig acting like a sheepdog couldn’t knock “Waterworld” out of its spot atop the week’s box office rankings.

According to figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations Inc., Kevin Costner’s attempt at post-apocalypse adventure spent its second week at No. 1, this time courtesy of a $13.5 million gross. That brings the film’s two-week gross to a so-so $45.6 million, which is far less than it took to make it (budget estimates run from $170 to $200 million).

And to think, one wire service had the temerity to report that “it was still too early to judge whether the movie would turn a profit.”

The week’s four premieres were led by Roberts and her new feature “Something to Talk About,” a romance about marital problems co-starring Dennis Quaid and Robert Duvall. It grossed $11.1 million, despite playing in just 1,510 locations, 873 fewer than “Waterworld.”

(“Waterworld” averaged $5,645 per location, while “Something to Talk About” averaged $7,361.)

Just behind, the porcine animal adventure “Babe” edged out the computer thriller “Virtuosity” for the No. 4 spot, $8.7 million to $8.3 million.

Way back at No. 10, the debuting “Home Alone” rip-off “Bushwacked,” starring Daniel Stern, made just $3 million.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo