LOS ANGELES – Weekend audiences chose the Robin Williams’ family-vacation romp “RV” over the acclaimed Sept. 11 drama, “United 93.” “RV” opened at No. 1 with $16.4 million, while “United 93” debuted with $11.6 million.
Studio estimates Sunday had Universal Pictures’ “United 93” in second place, just ahead of Disney’s sports comedy “Stick It,” which premiered with $11.3 million. Those rankings could change once final numbers are released today.
The weekend’s other new wide release, Lionsgate’s spelling-bee drama “Akeelah and the Bee,” was No. 8 with $6.25 million.
The 20th Century Fox release “RV” was expected to debut on top, but “United 93” had been an unknown quantity, with Hollywood analysts wondering whether movie-goers were ready to relive the horrors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“It’s not about the positioning of the film. It’s about the fact that the American public spoke out,” said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal Pictures. “This is a wonderful result. What they said was that it wasn’t too soon for a film about Sept. 11.”
Married couples accounted for just over half the “United 93” audience, and 71 percent of viewers were 30 and older, according to Universal.
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