Weekend box office

This summer, amid the clutter of all those high-octane action and computer-enhanced comic book blockbusters, a few studio “art house” and independent movies managed to stand out from the crowd.

The biggest surprise was the arty horror film “28 Days Later” from Fox Searchlight, which has grossed $43.7 million through Labor Day. Another unexpected hit was the soccer-themed “Bend It Like Beckham,” also from Fox Searchlight, which has taken in $31.4 million. They were followed by the almost-magical, New Zealand-made “Whale Rider” from Newmarket with $16.8 million, the French thriller “Swimming Pool” from Focus Features with $9 million, and the romantic comedy “Le Divorce” from Fox Searchlight with $6.2 million.

Two popular documentaries also made their presence known this summer: “Winged Migration,” a study of birds in flight from Sony Classics, grossed $8.7 million, while “Spellbound,” a film about the national Spelling Bee from Thinkfilm, tallied $5.3 million.

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*--* Movie 3-day Total Venues Average Weeks (Studio) Gross (Millions) Per Venue 1 Jeepers Creepers 2 $18.4 $18.4 3,124 $5,879 1 (MGM)

2 Freaky Friday (Buena $12.6 $90.8 3,067 $4,109 4 Vista)

3 Pirates of the $10.8 $275.0 2,227 $4,858 8 Caribbean (Buena Vista)

4 S.W.A.T. (Sony) $10.78 $102.7 2,781 $3,876 4

5 Open Range (Buena $10.7 $43.5 2,244 $4,790 3 Vista)

6 Seabiscuit (Universal) $9.1 $104.6 2,556 $3,545 6

7 Freddy vs. Jason (New $8.7 $73.9 2,929 $2,957 3 Line)

8 The Medallion (Sony) $6.2 $16.9 2,652 $2,342 2

9 Uptown Girls (MGM) $5.6 $30.4 2,166 $2,589 3

10 American Wedding $4.8 $97.7 1,810 $2,630 5 (Universal)

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Source: Exhibitor Relations Co.