‘Titanic’ Receipts Expected To Sail Past $200 Million Mark

Tue., Jan. 13, 1998

Associated Press

“Titanic” remains unsinkable at the box office.

The movie held onto its No. 1 box office ranking for a fourth weekend and was expected to break the $200 million mark Monday, its 25th day of release, according to industry estimates.

“Titanic” earned a surprising $29.2 million over the weekend - more than the $28.6 million it grossed in its debut weekend. Ticket sales dropped off only 12 percent from last week.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as lovers on the doomed ocean liner, “Titanic” cost $200 million to make. It should gross that amount by today despite a running time of more than three hours, which limits the number of screenings.

Only two other films have reached $200 million more quickly: “Independence Day” in 21 days and “Jurassic Park” in 23 days.

“The appetite seems to be unending at the moment,” said Rob Friedman, vice chairman of Paramount’s Motion Picture Group. “It has tremendous staying power.”

But observers say “Titanic” will need to earn at least $400 million to cover all production, advertising and distribution costs.

“Good Will Hunting,” a feel-good drama starring Matt Damon as a troubled young genius and Robin Williams as his therapist, placed second in its first weekend of wide release, earning a strong $10.3 million.

“Its word of mouth is so powerful,” said industry analyst Robert Bucksbaum, president of Reel Source Inc. “We don’t expect it to drop off either. It’s definitely an Oscar contender.”

“As Good As It Gets” was third with $9.3 million, followed by “Wag the Dog,” a political satire starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, which grossed $8.2 million in its first weekend of wide release.

“Tomorrow Never Dies,” the latest in the James Bond series, was fifth with $7.5 million.

“Firestorm,” an action adventure starring football’s Howie Long, debuted at No. 7 with $4 million.

“Amistad,” still in limited release, was 10th with $2.7 million. It will go into wide release on Friday.

“Titanic” may gain more momentum with next Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards - it has a leading eight nominations - and again when the Academy Award nominations are announced Feb. 10.

“It may start to lose some of its steam around then, and the nods will give it a boost,” Bucksbaum said of the movie’s expected Oscar nominations.

“‘Titanic’ will last well into the spring.”

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.