‘Titanic’ On Top Again; Beats ‘Grease’ Re-Release

“Titanic” rode the momentum of its big night at the Oscars and remained on top of the box office rankings for a 15th week. Audiences keen for nostalgia turned out in big numbers to see “Grease” in its re-release.

“Titanic” earned $16 million to boost its North American tally to $516 million. It passed the $500 million mark last week after picking up a record-tying 11 Academy Awards, including best picture.

“Grease,” another Paramount product, opened with $13 million in receipts, according to estimates released Sunday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. The musical starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta was digitally remastered for its 20th anniversary re-release.

“The exit polls are great,” studio spokesman Blaise Noto said. “People are singing and clapping and applauding. It’s all ages and demographics.”

Travolta also starred in the third-place film, “Primary Colors,” which grossed $7.3 million in its second week of release.

“Titanic” star Leonardo DiCaprio also was in the No. 4 movie, “The Man in the Iron Mask,” which grossed $6.6 million in its third week.

Other Oscar-winning films got boosts. “As Good As It Gets” and “Good Will Hunting” tied for sixth place with $4.3 million each. The gross for “As Good As It Gets” was up 32 percent over the previous weekend, while “Good Will Hunting” jumped 7 percent.

Other than “Grease,” new releases fared poorly.

“The Newton Boys,” a drama about bank robbers starring Matthew McConaughey, grossed only $4 million. “Ride,” a comedy about inner-city New Yorkers traveling to Miami, earned $2.6 million. Disney’s “Meet the Deedles,” about surfer brothers wreaking havoc at Yellowstone National Park, rang up $2.2 million.