DISAPPOINTING

Box Office Sees Worst Weekend in Years

Revenues neared post-9/11 lows.

Theaters saw an unusually low turnout this weekend, with box-office results approaching lows seen only after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. With no major new releases to pull in big crowds, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, an action comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds, claimed first place in its second weekend in theaters, with an estimated $10.1 million. The entire selection of films out in North American theaters brought in a mere $65 million in ticket sales, leaving the month of August down about 35 percent from last year, according to comScore. Analysts say the low revenues are likely a minor setback, however. “It’s a black eye for Hollywood but not a knockout punch,” Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for comScore, was cited as saying by the Associated Press. “Make no mistake about it, there was little foot traffic in theaters this weekend. But the story line will change in two weeks when It opens.”