bw_dave alerts us to an article on Episode II's purported box office numbers. From boxofficemojo.com:

Though it's only the start of the summer movie season, the two movies that will most likely end the season with the highest box office grosses -- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Spider-Man -- are already in the marketplace.

As George Lucas has already conceded, Spider-Man will cling to all of its sprinting records. The Marvel Comics adaptations' amazing $114,844,116 opening weekend was just too unprecedented, too universal in being the first to cross the elusive $100 million mark in three days, that Star Wars isn't even trying, hoping to be more of a marathon runner.

Spider-Man benefited from a super-saturation release of 3,615 theaters and 7,500 screens, a $50 million ad campaign and decades of pent-up demand from fans. Attack of the Clones, on the other hand, is playing at a still mega-wide 3,161 theaters and 6,100 screens, has a relatively modest campaign estimated at $25 million, and Star Wars fans were satiated -- and many disappointed -- just three years ago.

After 16 years since 1983's Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace blasted off Wednesday, May 19, 1999 at 2,970 theaters and on 5,500 screens. It scored $28,542,349 on that day, the record at the time. It then plunged 57% to $12,307,918 on Thursday. That led to a $64,810,970 three-day weekend, the second biggest ever at that point, for a five-day tally of $105,661,237. It left theaters with $431,088,297, a total that stands as the fourth highest of all time.

With its Thursday debut, Attack of the Clones strays not only from just about every other movie released in the United States, but from the Star Wars tradition of opening on a Wednesday. That tradition kicked off May 25, 1977 when Episode IV launched at 32 theaters, one percent of Clones. The reasoning is to make Clones a truly global release, bowing day-and-date with 74 countries. It also improves its weekend prospects by having one less day to burn off business.

Adjusted for ticket price inflation, The Phantom Menace's opening day would equal around $32 million today. With more opportunity for people to see it, that's a number Attack of the Clones should top, although it won't likely soar as high as Spider-Man's $39,406,872 opening day. Thursday is traditionally a much slower day than Friday, and kids are still in school. Not to mention, Thursday offers the season finales of such TV ratings juggernauts as ER, CSI and Friends. That said, Clones could still score $35 million on Thursday.

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