Will the power of Pokemon ever stop? U.S. fans of the animated seriesproved this weekend that they had to catch all of POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE.After setting the record for the biggest Wednesday opening of all time foran animated film, the Pikachu vehicle grossed an estimated $52.1 millionover a 5-day period, squishing the non-summer record of $45.7 million setby A BUG'S LIFE. The much anticipated new film from Kevin Smith, DOGMA,with visual effects by Station X Studios, bucked controversy and finished3rd. With a gross of $8.8 million, it seems God does have a sense of humor(and I'm not talking about singer Alanis Morrisette, who plays the heavenlymother in the film). HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, with visual effects byHollywood, California-based K.N.B. EFX Group, Inc., slips from 3rd tofinish in 8th with a weekend gross of $4.4 million and a cume of $34.8million. The second largest grossing flick of the year behind STAR WARS:THE PHANTOM MENACE, the SIXTH SENSE, with visual effects by DreamQuest,holds on to the final spot of the top ten with a weekend gross of $2.7million and a cume of $267.8 million. All box office figures quoted fromthe November 15, 1999 issue of Daily Variety.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
