For ‘The Klumps,’ Strength in Numbers

Eddie Murphy, all six of him, ruled the box office as “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” garnered $42.5 million its first weekend in release, making it the biggest opening for any Murphy film. Murphy’s 1996 original “Nutty Professor” opened with $25.4 million and went on take in $128.8 million domestically.

The other new release, the G-rated “Thomas and the Magic Railroad,” didn’t exactly tank but only managed ninth place with $4.2 million and a five-day total of $6.6 million. Last week’s No 1. “What Lies Beneath” held on strong, finishing second with $22.9 million and a 10-day gross of $69.4 million.

In limited release, the new French romance “Girl on the Bridge” took in $66,567 on six screens.

Weekend Box Office

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Three-day gross/ Screens/ Weeks in Movie (Studio) Total (millions) Average Release 1. “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” $42.5 3,242 1 (Universal) $42.5 $13,115 2. “What Lies Beneath” $22.9 2,825 2 (DreamWorks) $69.4 $8,093 3. “X-Men” $12.7 3,107 3 (Fox) $122.9 $4,081 4. “Scary Movie” $8.3 3,256 4 (Dimension) $132.1 $2,552 5. “The Perfect Storm” $7.5 3,093 5 (Warner Bros.) $158.1 $2,431 6. “Pokemon: The Movie 2000” $6.2 2,752 2 (Warner Bros.) $33.1 $2,254 7. “Disney’s The Kid” $5.2 2,328 4 (Disney) $52.1 $2,238 8. “The Patriot” $4.4 2,329 5 (Sony/Columbia) $101.2 $1,908 9. “Thomas and the Magic Railroad” $4.2 2,106 1 (Destination Films) $6.6 $1,973 10. “Chicken Run” $3.4 2,114 6 (DreamWorks) $92.9 $1,627 *”Girl on the Bridge” $66,567 6 1 (Paramount Classics) $66,567 $11,095

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SOURCE: Exhibitor Relations Co.