‘Birdcage’ Beats ‘Sgt. Bilko’

For the fourth straight week, Americans are celebrating men in high heels as Mike Nichols’ film “The Birdcage” continues to rule the nation’s box office.

Starring Robin Williams as the owner of a Miami gay club and Nathan Lane as his live-in lover, “The Birdcage” grossed $10.1 million, according to figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations Co.

In its four-week run, “The Birdcage” has earned a total of $74.6 million, relegating a series of debuts to runner-up status.

The latest debut to premiere in second place was “Sgt. Bilko,” the Steve Martin vehicle based on the popular television show of the 1950s. It earned $8.1 million.

Back in fourth place, Disney’s re-release of its 1988 animated adventure-comedy “Oliver & Company” grossed $4.5 million. In fact, it outgrossed an animated original, MGM’s “All Dogs Go to Heaven 2,” which ended up at No. 9 with a $2.3 million take.

MGM fared better with its racially themed drama, “A Family Thing,” which earned $3 million to finish at No. 6. But so did Gramercy with the Coen brothers feature “Fargo,” which finished at No. 8 ($2.7 million) in its fourth week (first week in Spokane) after going to wide release.

Of 1995’s more successful films, “Jumanji” jumped to the No. 12 spot, earning $1.31 million to push its 16-week earnings to $96,559,261.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo