Mel Gibson's return poses no threat to 'Avatar's' box-office reign2010-02-01

'Edge of Darkness,' which marked Gibson's first lead role since 2002, opens to a fine but not fantastic $17.1 million.

Mel Gibson still has his fans, but after a long and controversial absence from the big screen, his overall appeal seems to have faded.

The thriller "Edge of Darkness," which marked Gibson's first lead role since 2002's "Signs," opened to a fine but not fantastic $17.1 million from Friday through Sunday in the U.S. and Canada, according to an estimate from distributor Warner Bros.

It easily outperformed Walt Disney Studios' romantic comedy "When in Rome," the weekend's other new movie, but "Avatar," with $30 million, held the No. 1 spot for the seventh weekend in a row.

Opening-weekend ticket sales for "Edge of Darkness" were the lowest for any movie starring Gibson since 1995's "Braveheart," despite ongoing increases in ticket prices.

Still, "Edge of Darkness" should pay off for Warner, which paid $27 million to financier GK Films for rights to distribute the movie domestically.

Many in Hollywood were curious about the effect not just of Gibson's long absence from the big screen, during which he directed "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto," but also of his drunken anti-Semitic rant in 2006.

"Edge of Darkness" drew a primarily adult crowd of Gibson fans who probably remember his work in such action-oriented hits as "Mad Max," "Lethal Weapon" and "The Patriot." According to exit polls, 90% of ticket buyers were over 21, 56% were over 35, and 70% cited Gibson's performance as their top reason for attending.

"I think it shows his star is still shining," said Dan Fellman, Warner's president of domestic distribution.

Interest in "Edge of Darkness" was more geographically diverse than usual. Theaters in mid-size markets such as Fresno, San Antonio and Plano, Texas, were among the top 15 for the film, a rarity.

Audiences gave "Edge of Darkness" a B-plus, according to market research firm CinemaScore, a portent of solid buzz and possibly only a mild drop next week.

"When in Rome," starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel, launched to an unimpressive $12.1 million with crowds made up predominantly of young women and couples.

Chuck Viane, Disney's president of distribution, called the start "really decent" and said he hoped it would hold up well over Super Bowl weekend, when more women go to theaters. "When in Rome" will face stiff competition for the young female crowd from tear-jerker "Dear John," which opens Friday.

Audiences gave "When in Rome" a CinemaScore rating of B, which is an average mark from moviegoers.

Along with its chart-topping domestic receipts, "Avatar" added $95 million from 120 foreign countries this weekend, giving it a worldwide total of $2.04 billion.

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