`Legends Of The Fall’ On A Roll

Movie box offices performed as usual last week, with “Legends” on top and “Boys on the Side.”

According to Exhibitor Relations Co., “Legends of the Fall” continued in the No. 1 spot. The film’s $5.1 million in earnings pushed its seven-week total to $42.6 million. Starring Brad Pitt and Aidan Quinn, the Montana family saga has been on top for four straight weeks.

“Boys on the Side” features Whoopi Goldberg, Mary-Louise Parker and Drew Barrymore as mismatched friends brought close because of difficult circumstances. The Herbert Ross-directed film debuted with $4.8 million.

Other premieres included “The Jerky Boys,” a comedy featuring the comic duo that specializes in prank telephone calls. It earned $4.4 million to finish at No. 3.

And just behind was the new John Carpenter film “In the Mouth of Madness,” which is a Stephen King-goes-Clive Barker effort about a writer whose books cause readers to go insane. It earned $3.4 million.

Overall, it was sad week for movie earnings. Last week’s overall gross totaled $53.1 million, just below the year’s average of $56.1 million. Last week’s total was barely $33.1 million.

Two films, however, are still doing well. “Disclosure” (No. 12, $1.15 million) pushed its nine-week total to $78.2, and “Pulp Fiction” (No. 13, $1.15 million) has now earned $$74.5 million over 17 weeks.