Comedy 'Just Married' marches to No. 1 debut

LOS ANGELES -- Audiences ignored the critics and propelled the Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher comedy "Just Married" to the top of the weekend box office.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," which had been No. 1 for three straight weekends, slipped to second place with $15 million in receipts, but that pushed its total domestic gross to $283.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"Just Married" stars Murphy and Kutcher as mismatched newlyweds on a chaotic, slapstick honeymoon in Europe.

Generally disliked by critics, "Just Married" appealed solidly to young movie-goers, with people younger than 21 making up 65 percent of the audience, according to distributor 20th Century Fox.

The movie debuted with $18 million, the amount it cost to shoot.

"I can't say too often I've actually grossed the budget on opening weekend," said Bruce Snyder, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox.

Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me If You Can" came in third with $14.8 million, raising its total to $119.5 million. It was the 23rd movie released in 2002 to top $100 million, beating the previous record of 22 set in 2000.

Expanding from narrow release, Denzel Washington's "Antwone Fisher" and Nicolas Cage's "Adaptation" broke into the top 10.

"Antwone Fisher," directed by Washington and starring Derek Luke as a violent sailor confronting childhood traumas, widened to 1,006 theaters and came in at No. 9 with $3.8 million.

The offbeat Hollywood tale "Adaptation," reteaming "Being John Malkovich" writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze, was No. 10 with $2.9 million in 560 theaters.

Also expanding from limited release were Ray Liotta's cop thriller "Narc," which grossed $2.74 million in 822 theaters, and Spike Lee's Manhattan drug-dealer drama "The 25th Hour," which did $2.7 million in 490 theaters.

"The Two Towers" remains on track to shoot past the $313 million total of 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."

Director Peter Jackson and distributor New Line approached the J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation as three chapters in a single saga, culminating with next December's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."

Treating the project as one story has given it an edge that other movie franchises lack, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

"This serialized approach, it just forces movie-goers if they like the movie to see all three," Dergarabedian said. "There's a built-in must-see factor that most stand-alone sequels don't have."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Just Married," $18 million.

2. "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," $15 million.

3. "Catch Me If You Can," $14.8 million.

4. "Two Weeks Notice," $6.7 million.

5. "About Schmidt," $6.3 million.

6. "Chicago," $5.6 million.

7 (tie). "Maid in Manhattan," $5 million.

7 (tie). "Gangs of New York," $5 million.

9. "Antwone Fisher," $3.8 million.

10. "Adaptation," $2.9 million.