Audiences sink teeth into ‘Queen of the Damned’

? Audiences went vampire hunting as “Queen of the Damned,” featuring the late pop singer Aaliyah as an ancient bloodsucker, debuted as the top weekend movie with $15.2 million.

“John Q,” last weekend’s No. 1 film, dropped to second place with $12.5 million, pushing its 10-day total to $39.9 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Kevin Costner’s supernatural love story “Dragonfly” opened in third place with $10.4 million.

Though generally trashed by critics, “Queen of the Damned” got a big boost from young fans of Aaliyah, who was killed in a plane crash last summer. Women under 25 made up 30 percent to 40 percent of the film’s audience, said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., which released “Queen of the Damned.”

“Her fans liked the movie,” Fellman said. “I think they were drawn by their loyalty and curiosity and desire to see Aaliyah on the big screen.”

Based on Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles,” the movie stars Aaliyah as the mother of all bloodsuckers and Stuart Townsend as the vampire Lestat.

Playing in 2,511 locations, “Queen of the Damned” averaged a healthy $6,035 a theater, compared with a $5,000 average in 2,505 theaters for “John Q” and $4,148 in 2,507 cinemas for “Dragonfly.”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.:

1. “Queen of the Damned,” $15.2 million.

2. “John Q,” $12.5 million.

3. “Dragonfly,” $10.4 million.

4. “Return to Never Land,” $9 million.

5. “Crossroads,” $7.1 million.

6. “Big Fat Liar,” $6.7 million.

7. “A Beautiful Mind,” $5.2 million.

8. “Hart’s War,” $4.6 million.

9. “Super Troopers,” $3.9 million.

10. “Collateral Damage,” $3.7 million.