Atlantis Struggles on Opening Day

(June 16, 2001 - by digitalmediafx.com) Despite nearly unanimous negative reviews (Roger Ebert being one of the few with a positive one), Paramount's Tomb Raider took in a massive $17.6 million on Friday making it the easy victor at the box office and a shoe-in to win the weekend.

In second place on Friday was Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, which took in $6.5 million. The opening is well under Disney's Tarzan two years ago, which grossed $11.6 million in its opening day. The opening is also weaker than Disney's 1997 Hercules, which made $9.3 million, in fewer theaters, on its opening Friday.

Despite getting mixed reviews, Atlantis fell victim to its battle with Tomb Raider for the same audience. Atlantis was also hurt by Shrek, which came in third on Friday with $3.5 million, bringing its total to $188 million since opening a month ago.

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