Sunday March 9 3:59 PM EST Millions Flock To See Stern's 'Private Parts' LOS ANGELES, March 9 (Reuter) - Outspoken radio humorist Howard Stern extended his influence to the U.S. box office during the weekend as his romantic comedy "Private Parts" opened in the top position with an estimated $15.1 million. The feat represents another medium conquered with relative ease by the syndicated morning radio host whose top-rated show mixes outrageous sexual fantasies with blunt-spoken libertarian politics. Stern, the self-proclaimed "king of all media," has already published two best-selling autobiographies, put together a racy pay-per-view cable show that grossed $40 million and made a big foray into television. According to Paramount Pictures, which released the movie, "Private Parts" averaged $7,063 from 2,138 screens during the weekend. The movie's gross includes about $800,000 from 671 theatres that screened the film late on Thursday night. Rob Friedman, who heads marketing at the studio, said the movie came in at the high end of expectations. "We would have been happy with anything above $10 million," he said. The movie polled favorably across the country, not just in the markets that feature his radio show, Friedman said. The movie will open internationally in May/June, and Stern -- a self-confessed xenophobe who hates leaving his Long Island, NY home -- will venture to Europe at that time to woo moviegoers, Friedman said. The top 10 contained just one other new entry, the Tim Allen comedy vehicle "Jungle 2 Jungle," which is released by Walt Disney Co. The movie opened in second with an estimated $12.7 million from 2,316 screens, or a healthy average of $5,484. Last weekend's number one, "The Empire Strikes Back," fell to fourth with $8.0 million from 2,109 screens. It averaged $3,793. After three weeks in re-release, the movie has earned $51.7 million. Its lifetime domestic gross, since its original release in 1980, is $274.4 million. Third place went to the mob picture "Donnie Brasco," starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. The movie earned $8.2 million from 1,593 screens, an addition of 90 screens since the movie opened last weekend in second. It averaged $5,148 this weekend. The movie's 10-day total is $23.7 million. Also down a notch, to fifth, was "Booty Call," an urban romantic comedy that opened on February 26. It earned $$4.25 million from 1,272 screens, taking its total to $14 million. Copyright Reuters/Variety
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