`Mexican,' WB top B.O. siesta.(motion picture box office)

HOLLYWOOD After a quick start during the first two months of the year, B.O. slowed its 2000-topping pace in March from a 22% lead over the same period last year to just 12% ahead. The March 2-April 1 span banked total receipts of $533.6 million, 5% off last year's high of $561 million.

The monthly take ranks third in a 10-year stretch, just behind 1997's $540 million.

One theory for the month's slowdown is the lack of a solid tentpole; MGM's "Hannibal" drove admissions in February.

DreamWorks hoped for similar strength for "The Mexican," but while the Julia Roberts-Brad Pitt pic was March's highest-grossing film, it topped out at about $62 million -- a bit under par given Roberts' recent B.O. strength.

Warners streak

The month saw Warner Bros. win its sixth March title since 1990, with $89 million. In the year-to-date B.O. race, the studio ranks second, with $219.2 million, to Paramount, with $256 million. Sony and MGM follow in third and fourth place, respectively.

Hitting more doubles than home runs with such pics as "Exit Wounds" and "See Spot Run," Warners generated solid receipts from nine films -- the most for any major last month.

The top 10 pics in March: "The Mexican" ($62 million), "Exit Wounds" ($41 million), "Enemy at the Gates" ($34 million), "See Spot Run" ($32 million), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" ($30 million), "Hannibal" ($29 million), "Spy Kids" ($27 million), "Down to Earth" ($26 million), "Traffic" ($25.7 million) and "15 minutes" ($23.5 million).

 
B.O. MARKET SHARE 
 
(for period of March 2 - April 1) 
 
Distrib         B.O.(*)   % share 
 
Warner Bros.       89.1      16.7 
Paramount          68.2      12.8 
DreamWorks         63.1      11.8 
Miramax            61.7      11.6 
MGM                52.4       9.8 
Sony               38.2       7.1 
Sony Classics      36.2       6.8 
USA                27.2       5.1 
New Line           26.7       5.0 
Buena Vista        26.5       5.0 
Fox                25.8       4.8 
Universal           3.7       0.7 
Others             14.8       2.8 
Total             533.6     100% 
 
Source: ACNielsen EDI Film Source 
 
(*) in millions of $ 
VARIETY BOX OFFICE 
 
                                        Reported     Reported 
                                       Box Office   Box Office 
                                        3/30-4/5     3/30-4/1 
TITLE/DISTRIBUTOR                      (full week)   (weekend) 
 
Spy Kids (Miramax/Dimension)           $31,178,048  $26,546,881 
Someone Like You (20th)                 12,429,018   10,010,600 
Heartbreakers (MGM/Winchester)           9,632,379    7,802,097 
Tomcats (Revolution/Sony)                8,141,622    6,406,076 
Enemy at the Gates (Par)                 7,018,106    5,406,959 
 
The Brothers (Sony/Screen Gems)          6,980,762    5,603,339 
Exit Wounds (WB/Village Roadshow)        6,890,880    5,251,569 …