Second-best isn't bad for 2003 ticket sales

By Scott Bowles
USA Today

If not for 2002, this would be the summer to beat all summers.

This season, four films have broken the $200 million mark — that's a record. Ticket sales have hit $1.8 billion since the first weekend in May, the second highest summer tally ever.

But that still doesn't measure up to last summer, when a web slinger and a young Jedi put 2002 on course to set the new standard for ticket sales.

"Last year was a two-picture summer," says Brandon Gray of BoxOfficeMojo.com. "This year we've got five or six horses, but none of them are looking fast enough to catch us up with 2002."

Consider: By this time last year, "Spider-Man" already had taken in $395.9 million on its way to $403.7 million. "Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones" had taken in $286.3 million of its eventual $310.4 million. Those were the only two films to even crack the $200 million mark by the end of June 2002.

This summer, "The Matrix Reloaded," "Finding Nemo," "Bruce Almighty" and "X2: X-Men United" all broke $200 million, but none has passed $300 million as yet.

And it's unlikely the rest of this summer will gain ground on last year.

After this week's "Legally Blonde 2" and "Terminator 3," the potential biggies include "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," "Bad Boys II," "American Wedding" and "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life."

Last summer's late-season hits included "Signs" and "Austin Powers in Goldmember," which each took in more than $200 million.

Still, the industry isn't crying too much.

"Second place to 2002 isn't bad," says Paul Dergarabedian of Exhibitor Relations. "That means you're still doing great business."