By the Numbers

Weekend box office

While Monday’s official returns were a little lower than the estimates released Sunday, the top two movies still managed to bring in considerable business. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” follows only “Spider-Man” in its domestic pace. “Return of the King” grossed $222.3 million in 12 days, versus $223 million in 10 days for “Spider-Man.”

*--* MOVIE 3-DAY GROSS TOTAL (MILL.) VENUES AVGVENUE WEEKS

1 The Lord of $50.6 $222.3 3,703 $13,664 2 the Rings: The Return of the King (New Line)

2 Cheaper by $27.6 $35.4 3,298 $8,356 1 the Dozen (Fox)

3 Cold Mountain $14.6 $19.1 2,163 $6,738 1 (Miramax)

4 Something’s $13.8 $55.9 2,709 $5,100 3 Gotta Give (Sony)

5 Paycheck $13.5 $18.6 2,762 $4,874 1 (Paramount)

6 Mona Lisa $11.4 $31.2 2,677 $4,240 2 Smile (Sony/Revolutio n)

7 Peter Pan $11.1 $14.6 2,813 $3,960 1 (Universal)

8 The Last $8.3 $74.3 2,557 $3,257 4 Samurai (Warner Bros. )

9 Bad Santa $4.5 $50.9 1,710 $2,647 5 (Miramax/Dimens ion)

10 Elf $3.9 $164.6 2,015 $1,938 8 (New Line)

*--*

Source: Nielsen EDI Inc.