Unlike last week, the two new releases this week are demographically compatible, with For the Love the Game skewing older and female and Blue Streak skewing younger and male.

For Love of the Game seems like a home run. Kevin Costner returns to the baseball pictures that cemented his stardom in the late 80's. This picture has the baseball for the guys and romance for the gals. However, Universal has primarily focused on the romance aspect in the ad campaign, turning off the guys and rendering it more of a chick flick along the lines of Costner's last picture, Message in a Bottle. That one opened to a strong $16.8 million nonetheless. So with the baseball edge in mind, the fact that this is the first real date picture in over a month, and its 2,824 theater count, Game should have an even stronger debut.

Blue Streak is opening on the same weekend that Rush Hour did last year. This is no accident. Sony is trying to copy that success with its own cop action-comedy. However, they won't be nearly as successful. It just doesn't have the culture clash hook and funny lines that Rush Hour displayed in its ad campaign prior to its phenomenal opening. What it does have going for it is Martin Lawrence, who's been in the news excessively lately regarding the coma he was in, and who has a solid record at the box office anyway. It's also the first major comedy in over a month, and it appeals to the neglected urban audience. Opening at 2,735 theaters, it should post some strong numbers and make a run for the top spot.

Meanwhile, Stigmata and Stir of Echoes should see significant drops in business as horror pictures traditionally do. Sixth Sense looks like it will see a drop similar to its 28% one last week as it is showing signs of being played out. But, hey, it has had one of the most phenomenal runs in history, passing the $200 million mark on Wednesday, only the 28<SUP>th</SUP> picture to do so. This feat is all the more phenomenal considering that it opened with less than $30 million and that it stars Bruce Willis.

Editor's Note: Articles published before 2001 were assigned and reported as box office briefings, not a full evaluation or analysis.