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The Phantom Menace at the Box Office

Although it failed to live up to expectations in many ways, The Phantom Menace accumulated an impressive array of box office records. Its opening day take of $28,542,349 was, at the time, safely the biggest day's take for a single movie, although it didn't manage to hold on well enough to break the then opening weekend record, held by Lost World: Jurassic Park's phenomenal $72,132,785 over Memorial Day weekend in 1997. It wasn't until Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released in 2001 that these numbers were significantly beaten.

Not content with opening strong, widespread interest (in spite of a muted critical reaction) carried it to further records. First, Phantom Menace cruised past $100m in 5 days, breaking Lost World's record by 24 hours (the current record has since been reduced to just 3 days). Maintaining it's momentum, it reach $200m in just 13 days, easily beating Independence Day's 20 1/2 day mark (the previous record). Even more remarkably, it took only 28 days to accumulate $300m, beating Titanic's record by a fat 16 day margin.

But the movie never generated quite enough repeat viewers to continue on to all-time top status. A head-to-head comparison with Titanic for the remaining box office records tells the story:

Box Office	Titanic	Phantom Menace
$100m	12 days	5 days
$200m	25 days	13 days
$300m	44 days	28 days
$400m	66 days	67 days
$500m	98 days	-
$600m	252 days	-
Final Gross	$600,743,440	$431,065,444

Bruce Nash, December 1^st, 2001

Weekend Chart Record

Date	Rank		Gross	% Change	Theaters	Per Theater	Total Gross	Days
5/21/1999	1		$64,810,970		2,970	$21,822	$105,661,237	5
5/28/1999	1		$51,399,863	-20.69%	3,022	$17,009	$207,099,058	12
6/4/1999	1		$32,891,653	-36.01%	3,024	$10,877	$255,758,124	19
6/11/1999	2		$25,632,861	-22.07%	3,024	$8,476	$296,964,911	26
6/18/1999	4		$18,859,021	-26.43%	3,019	$6,247	$328,072,869	33
6/25/1999	5		$14,111,919	-25.17%	3,126	$4,514	$351,669,681	40
7/2/1999	6		$13,291,659	-5.81%	2,628	$5,058	$373,166,970	47
7/9/1999	7		$7,491,397	-43.64%	2,447	$3,061	$385,184,373	54
7/16/1999	8		$5,647,641	-24.61%	1,850	$3,053	$395,201,250	61
7/23/1999	10		$4,197,100	-25.68%	1,614	$2,600	$402,770,726	68
7/30/1999	9		$3,420,720	-18.50%	1,628	$2,101	$408,597,032	75
8/6/1999	11		$2,223,198	-35.01%	1,199	$1,854	$412,775,151	82
8/13/1999	14		$1,518,607	-31.69%	765	$1,985	$415,645,312	89
8/20/1999	16		$1,221,405	-19.57%	631	$1,936	$417,800,897	96
8/27/1999	20		$910,246	-25.48%	497	$1,831	$419,423,967	103
9/3/1999	17		$1,534,860	+68.62%	604	$2,541	$421,381,756	110
9/10/1999	19		$653,324	-57.43%	518	$1,261	$422,252,998	117
9/17/1999	13		$799,369	+22.35%	732	$1,092	$423,299,088	124
9/24/1999	12		$801,935	+0.32%	766	$1,047	$424,399,730	131
10/1/1999	15		$697,097	-13.07%	689	$1,012	$425,360,285	138
10/8/1999	16		$538,206	-22.79%	550	$979	$426,141,814	145
10/15/1999	17		$435,504	-19.08%	494	$882	$426,818,051	152
10/22/1999	23		$322,670	-25.91%	386	$836	$427,285,100	159
10/29/1999	27		$222,596	-31.01%	331	$672	$427,607,869	166
12/3/1999	11		$1,292,968		832	$1,554	$429,002,763	201
12/24/1999	35		$114,418		368	$311	$429,984,994	222
12/31/1999	28		$205,498	+79.60%	354	$581	$430,443,350	229
1/7/2000	29		$180,997	-11.92%	296	$611	$430,727,381	236
1/14/2000	41		$110,254	-39.09%	144	$766	$430,898,608	243
1/21/2000	48		$65,165	-40.90%	117	$557	$430,984,033	250
1/28/2000	51		$57,510	-11.75%	103	$558	$431,065,444	257

Daily Chart Record

Date	Rank		Gross	% Change	Theaters	Per Theater	Total Gross	Days
5/19/1999	1		$28,542,349		2,970	$9,610	$28,542,349	1
5/20/1999	1		$12,307,918	-56.88%	2,970	$4,144	$40,850,267	2
5/21/1999	1		$18,467,513	+50.05%	2,970	$6,218	$59,317,780	3
5/22/1999	1		$24,414,123	+32.20%	2,970	$8,220	$83,731,903	4
5/23/1999	1		$21,929,334	-10.18%	2,970	$7,384	$105,661,237	5
5/24/1999	1		$10,881,272	-50.38%	2,970	$3,664	$116,542,509	6
5/25/1999	1		$8,181,275	-24.81%	2,970	$2,755	$124,723,784	7
5/26/1999	1		$7,751,876	-5.25%	2,970	$2,610	$132,475,660	8
5/27/1999	1		$7,530,162	-2.86%	2,970	$2,535	$140,005,822	9
5/28/1999	1		$13,521,561	+79.57%	3,022	$4,474	$153,537,561	10
5/29/1999	1		$19,330,780	+42.96%	3,022	$6,397	$172,868,341	11
5/30/1999	1		$18,537,522	-4.10%	3,022	$6,134	$191,405,863	12
5/31/1999	1		$15,504,435	-16.36%	3,023	$5,129	$207,099,058	13
6/1/1999	1		$5,459,637	-64.79%	3,023	$1,806	$212,558,695	14
6/2/1999	1		$5,295,848	-3.00%	3,023	$1,752	$217,854,543	15
6/3/1999	1		$5,011,928	-5.36%	3,023	$1,658	$222,866,471	16
6/4/1999	1		$8,345,000	+66.50%	3,023	$2,761	$231,211,000	17
6/5/1999	1		$13,889,000	+66.43%	3,024	$4,593	$245,100,000	18
6/6/1999	1		$10,600,000	-23.68%	3,024	$3,505	$255,758,124	19
6/7/1999	1		$3,919,371	-63.02%	3,024	$1,296	$259,677,495	20
6/8/1999	1		$4,002,249	+2.11%	3,024	$1,323	$263,679,744	21
6/9/1999	1		$3,812,157	-4.75%	3,024	$1,261	$267,491,901	22
6/10/1999	1		$3,840,149	+0.73%	3,024	$1,270	$271,332,050	23
6/11/1999	2		$6,675,000	+73.82%	3,024	$2,207	$278,007,000	24
6/12/1999	2		$10,525,000	+57.68%	3,025	$3,479	$288,532,000	25
6/13/1999	2		$8,382,000	-20.36%	3,024	$2,772	$296,964,911	26
6/14/1999	2		$3,025,265	-63.91%	3,024	$1,000	$299,990,176	27
6/15/1999	2		$3,071,497	+1.53%	3,024	$1,016	$303,061,673	28
6/16/1999	2		$2,969,009	-3.34%	3,024	$982	$306,030,682	29
6/17/1999	2		$3,183,166	+7.21%	3,024	$1,053	$309,213,848	30
6/18/1999	4		$4,805,000	+50.95%	3,019	$1,592	$314,019,000	31
6/19/1999	4		$7,380,000	+53.59%	3,019	$2,445	$321,399,000	32
6/20/1999	3		$6,821,000	-7.57%	3,019	$2,259	$328,072,869	33
6/21/1999	4		$2,370,597	-65.25%	3,019	$785	$330,443,466	34
6/22/1999	4		$2,418,332	+2.01%	3,019	$801	$332,861,798	35
6/23/1999	3		$2,226,475	-7.93%	3,019	$737	$335,088,273	36
6/24/1999	3		$2,469,489	+10.91%	3,019	$818	$337,557,762	37
6/25/1999	5		$3,770,000	+52.66%	3,126	$1,206	$341,328,000	38
6/26/1999	5		$5,775,000	+53.18%	3,126	$1,847	$347,103,000	39
6/27/1999	4		$4,521,000	-21.71%	3,126	$1,446	$351,669,681	40
6/28/1999	4		$2,110,404	-53.32%	3,126	$675	$353,780,085	41
6/29/1999	4		$2,240,972	+6.19%	3,126	$717	$356,021,057	42
6/30/1999	6		$1,739,756	-22.37%	3,126	$557	$357,760,813	43
7/1/1999	6		$2,114,498	+21.54%	3,126	$676	$359,875,311	44
7/2/1999	7		$2,900,000	+37.15%	2,631	$1,102	$362,775,000	45
7/3/1999	6		$3,820,000	+31.72%	2,631	$1,452	$366,595,000	46
7/4/1999	5		$2,790,000	-26.96%	2,631	$1,060	$369,385,000	47
7/5/1999	4		$3,751,277	+34.45%	2,628	$1,427	$373,166,970	48
7/6/1999	5		$1,722,948	-54.07%	2,628	$656	$374,889,918	49
7/7/1999	5		$1,382,953	-19.73%	2,628	$526	$376,272,871	50
7/8/1999	5		$1,400,000	+1.23%	2,628	$533	$377,672,871	51
7/9/1999	8		$2,025,000	+44.64%	2,447	$828	$379,718,000	52
7/10/1999	6		$3,075,000	+51.85%	2,447	$1,257	$382,793,000	53
7/11/1999	5		$2,246,000	-26.96%	2,447	$918	$385,184,373	54
7/12/1999	5		$1,065,109	-52.58%	2,447	$435	$386,249,482	55
7/13/1999	5		$1,215,923	+14.16%	2,447	$497	$387,465,405	56
7/14/1999	5		$1,059,741	-12.84%	2,447	$433	$388,525,146	57
7/15/1999	5		$1,028,463	-2.95%	2,447	$420	$389,553,609	58
7/16/1999	10		$1,425,000	+38.56%	1,854	$769	$390,979,000	59
7/17/1999	8		$2,375,000	+66.67%	1,854	$1,281	$393,354,000	60
7/18/1999	8		$1,789,000	-24.67%	1,854	$965	$395,201,000	61
7/19/1999	8		$847,947	-52.60%	1,850	$458	$396,049,197	62
7/20/1999	7		$886,028	+4.49%	1,850	$479	$396,935,225	63
7/21/1999	7		$813,552	-8.18%	1,850	$440	$397,748,777	64
7/22/1999	7		$824,849	+1.39%	1,850	$446	$398,573,626	65
7/23/1999	11		$1,040,000	+26.08%	1,614	$644	$399,614,000	66
7/24/1999	10		$1,730,000	+66.35%	1,614	$1,072	$401,344,000	67
7/25/1999	10		$1,333,000	-22.95%	1,615	$825	$402,770,726	68
7/26/1999	10		$586,415	-56.01%	1,615	$363	$403,357,141	69
7/27/1999	8		$648,692	+10.62%	1,615	$402	$404,005,833	70
7/28/1999	8		$568,065	-12.43%	1,615	$352	$404,573,895	71
7/29/1999	8		$602,414	+6.05%	1,615	$373	$405,176,312	72
7/30/1999	9		$910,000	+51.06%	1,640	$555	$406,086,000	73
7/31/1999	8		$1,465,000	+60.99%	1,640	$893	$407,551,000	74
8/1/1999	9		$1,000,000	-31.74%	1,640	$610	$408,597,032	75
8/2/1999	7		$487,362	-51.26%	1,628	$299	$409,084,394	76
8/3/1999	7		$506,142	+3.85%	1,628	$311	$409,590,536	77
8/4/1999	8		$486,393	-3.90%	1,628	$299	$410,076,929	78
8/5/1999	8		$475,024	-2.34%	1,628	$292	$410,551,953	79
8/6/1999	12		$595,000	+25.26%	1,188	$501	$411,147,000	80
8/7/1999	11		$885,000	+48.74%	1,188	$745	$412,032,000	81
8/8/1999	11		$758,000	-14.35%	1,199	$632	$412,775,151	82
8/9/1999	12		$308,048	-59.36%	1,199	$257	$413,078,199	83
8/10/1999	11		$376,083	+22.09%	1,199	$314	$413,454,282	84
8/11/1999	11		$334,948	-10.94%	1,199	$279	$413,789,230	85
8/12/1999	11		$337,475	+0.75%	1,199	$281	$414,126,705	86
8/13/1999	14		$415,000	+22.97%	765	$542	$414,542,000	87
8/14/1999	14		$640,000	+54.22%	765	$837	$415,182,000	88
8/15/1999	14		$473,000	-26.09%	771	$613	$415,645,312	89
8/16/1999	14		$214,544	-54.64%	771	$278	$415,859,856	90
8/17/1999	14		$252,192	+17.55%	771	$327	$416,112,048	91
8/18/1999	13		$237,863	-5.68%	771	$309	$416,349,911	92
8/19/1999	13		$229,581	-3.48%	771	$298	$416,579,492	93
8/22/1999	16		$370,000		631	$586	$417,800,897	96
8/23/1999	16		$168,528	-54.45%	631	$267	$417,969,425	97
8/24/1999	15		$196,111	+16.37%	631	$311	$418,165,536	98
8/25/1999	16		$171,999	-12.30%	631	$273	$418,337,535	99
8/26/1999	16		$176,186	+2.43%	631	$279	$418,513,721	100
8/27/1999	20		$251,000	+42.46%	497	$505	$418,765,000	101
8/28/1999	19		$382,000	+52.19%	497	$769	$419,147,000	102
8/29/1999	19		$269,000	-29.58%	497	$541	$419,423,967	103
8/30/1999	20		$102,825	-61.78%	497	$207	$419,526,792	104
8/31/1999	18		$120,465	+17.16%	497	$242	$419,647,257	105
9/1/1999	19		$99,085	-17.75%	497	$199	$419,746,342	106
9/2/1999	19		$100,554	+1.48%	497	$202	$419,846,896	107
9/3/1999	18		$225,000	+123.76%	613	$367	$420,072,000	108
9/6/1999	17		$386,018		604	$639	$421,381,756	111
9/7/1999	16		$82,259	-78.69%	604	$136	$421,464,015	112
9/8/1999	16		$70,762	-13.98%	604	$117	$421,534,777	113
9/9/1999	15		$64,987	-8.16%	604	$108	$421,599,764	114
9/10/1999	19		$158,000	+143.13%	604	$262	$421,758,000	115
9/11/1999	18		$305,000	+93.04%	512	$596	$422,063,000	116
9/12/1999	20		$174,000	-42.95%	512	$340	$422,253,000	117
9/13/1999	16		$50,306	-71.09%	512	$98	$422,303,394	118
9/14/1999	16		$60,255	+19.78%	512	$118	$422,363,649	119
9/15/1999	17		$59,044	-2.01%	518	$114	$422,422,693	120
9/17/1999	14		$183,000		735	$249	$422,683,000	122
9/18/1999	11		$333,000	+81.97%	735	$453	$423,016,000	123
9/19/1999	12		$235,000	-29.43%	735	$320	$423,299,088	124
9/20/1999	12		$76,168	-67.59%	734	$104	$423,375,256	125
9/21/1999	13		$80,558	+5.76%	734	$110	$423,455,814	126
9/22/1999	13		$69,119	-14.20%	734	$94	$423,524,933	127
9/23/1999	12		$72,862	+5.42%	734	$99	$423,597,795	128
9/24/1999	13		$185,000	+153.90%	763	$242	$423,783,000	129
9/25/1999	13		$333,000	+80.00%	763	$436	$424,115,000	130
9/26/1999	11		$221,000	-33.63%	766	$289	$424,399,730	131
9/27/1999	12		$66,541	-69.89%	766	$87	$424,466,271	132
9/28/1999	14		$70,671	+6.21%	766	$92	$424,536,942	133
9/29/1999	13		$61,189	-13.42%	766	$80	$424,598,131	134
9/30/1999	13		$65,057	+6.32%	766	$85