The 1999 summer movie season continued to defy expectations as it ended with a record Labor Day weekend. Total for all pictures over the Friday-to-Monday period was around $115 million, 20% more than the previous high set in 1997. What's more, this was set primarily by the strength of the holdovers, as the new releases were rather weak.

The Sixth Sense grossed an estimated $29.3 million, breaking the Labor Day weekend record for money made by a single picture, previously held by The Fugitive's $17.2 million. Its three-day haul of $22.9 million was a remarkable 14% improvement over last weekend, and makes it only the second picture in history to have five $20 million plus weekends, Titanic being the other.

Chill Factor bombed with $5.8 million, putting it on par with other Labor Day action openers of the past, though with a considerably lower average due to its high 2,558 theater count. Outside Providence tanked with $3.4 million from 1,050 theaters, but, hey, it did better than Detroit Rock City and Dick. The rest of the pictures enjoyed uncommonly strong holds, especially Runaway Bride and The Thomas Crown Affair, each making about the same Friday-to-Sunday as they did last week.

Editor's Note: Articles published before 2001 were assigned and reported as box office briefings, not a full evaluation or analysis.