WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : ‘Halloween’ Scares Up an Audience

The only element that 1982’s “Halloween III” had in common with the original cult favorite was its title--and the box-office results were disappointing. So the makers of “Halloween IV” took the sequel back to its original 1978 formula. They also emphasized suspense over blood and gore, says executive producer Moustapha Akkad. Both strategies appear to be paying off. For two consecutive weekends the $5 million film has held onto the No. 1 spot, and has grossed a total of $12.9 million. Last weekend, “Halloween 4” grossed $4.1 million at 1,692 theaters, an average of $2,432 per screen.

* Woody Allen’s “Another Woman,” playing at only four theaters, is doing better in New York than Los Angeles. Over the weekend, the film grossed $57,759, down 23% from its opening weekend.

Weekend Gross/ Screens/ Weeks Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average in Release 1. “Halloween IV” $4.1 1,692 2 (Galaxy International) $12.9 $2,432 2. “The Accused” $3.0 930 3 (Paramount) $14.2 $3,232 3. “Alien Nation” $1.8 1,420 4 (20th Century Fox) $20.3 $1,256 4. “Gorillas in the Mist” $1.6 1,054 6 (Universal) $17.9 $1,475 5. “Punchline” $1.5 917 5 (Columbia) $15.6 $1,669 * “Another Woman” $.058 4 3 (Orion) $.280 $14,439

SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.