‘Titanic’ Still Steaming In Front

Tue., Feb. 3, 1998

Associated Press

“Titanic” stayed leagues ahead of the box office competition for a seventh weekend.

Ticket sales for the sinking-ship romance rose 2 percent for an estimated $26 million weekend take. It now has earned $308.2 million domestically, beating out “Independence Day” for the No. 7 slot on the list of all-time best sellers in North America, Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. said Sunday.

It took James Cameron’s $200 million-plus feature only 44 days to break the $300 million mark, compared to 67 days for Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park.”

Some analysts predict its record-setting pace may surpass the No. 2 film on the top-grossing list, “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial,” which earned $399.8 million, and all-time winner, “Star ‘Wars,” which earned $461 million.

Paramount spokesman Blaise Noto attributed continuing interest in “Titanic” to repeat business, mostly from women, and to new viewers brought in by word of mouth.

“People are fascinated by the story of the movie and the story of what actually happened to the Titanic,” Noto said.

Debuting at No. 2 was “Great Expectations,” starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow in a loose retelling of the Charles Dickens story. It earned $9.9 million.

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