Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones dominated the Memorial Day weekend box office by raking in an estimated $62 million dollars over the four-day holiday, while Spider-Man, which actually added 261 screens this week to bring its total to 3,876, added $36.5 million to bring its total to over $334 million.  Clones averaged a very strong $19,361 per screen (Spider-Man averaged $9,417) en route to a cumulative total of over $202 million.  Clones passed the $200 million mark in just 12 days, second only to Spider-Man, which did it in only 9 days. 

 

The next weekend will be crucial if Clones is going to have a chance to overtake the impressive $431 million total of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.  More than a few Hollywood analysts are predicting that heavy competition from this summer's contingent of blockbuster releases (see 'Best in Shows 2002') will prevent Clones from catching either Phantom Menace or Spider-Man.  So far at least, both Spider-Man and Clones have demonstrated extraordinary 'legs,' which is good news for pop culture retailers.