By the Numbers

Weekend box office

The top 10 films grossed $114.8 million this week, or 28% less than last week but 12% higher than this time last year. The movies hung on well into the New Year’s weekend, with eight of the top 10 dropping 27% or less -- reflecting excellent staying power.

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

1 Lord of the $28.2 $290.4 3,703 $7,610 3 Rings: Return of the King (New Line)

2 Cheaper by $21.6 $85.6 3,307 $6,545 2 the Dozen (Fox)

3 Something’s $11.7 $81.2 2,808 $4,168 4 Gotta Give (Sony)

4 Cold Mountain $11.6 $43.7 2,216 $5,226 2 (Miramax)

5 Paycheck $9.8 $38.6 2,762 $3,562 2 (Paramount )

6 Peter Pan $8.8 $34.2 2,813 $3,135 2 (Universal )

7 Mona Lisa $8.3 $50.0 2,714 $3,059 3 Smile (Sony/Revolutio n)

8 The Last $7.4 $90.0 2,401 $3,071 5 Samurai (Warner Bros. )

9 Calendar Girls $4.4 $6.95 745 $5,956 3 (Disney)

10 Bad Santa $2.9 $56.9 1,710 $1,718 6 (Miramax/Dimens ion)

*--*

Source: Nielsen EDI Inc.