‘Mortal Kombat’ Slays ‘Em All

And so “Waterworld” continues to slip beneath the movieland waves, the most notable victim of Hollywood’s “Mortal Kombat.”

A video game-turned-feature-film, the martial arts-oriented “Kombat” grabbed the No. 1 spot among the week’s releases, grossing some $23.3 million, according to figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations Co.

Meanwhile, Kevin Costner’s “Waterworld” did no better than No. 5 with a $5.3 million take. In four weeks, the post-apocalypse thriller has earned some $70 million - far less than its reported $170 to $200 million price tag.

Of the week’s other releases, neither did particularly well. “The Baby-sitters Club,” which is based on a series of young adult novels, earned just $3.4 million. It finished at No. 9.

And in limited release, the critically acclaimed “The Usual Suspects” managed a No. 17 finish with a $645,000 take. Of course, playing in just 42 locations, “Suspects” promises better revenue to come: It averaged $15,366 per location, which is better even than the $9,617 per location averaged by “Mortal Kombat.”

Two high-profile films, “Virtuosity” and “Operation Dumbo Drop,” are proving to be big disappointments. Paramount’s “Virtuosity” has grossed just $20.7 million in its first three weeks, and Disney’s “Dumbo Drop” has done just $21 million in four weeks.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo