"Travolta's a major draw, the argument went. So also is the controversial author of the book on which "Battlefield" is based: Scientology founder L.Ron Hubbard. In the end, though, pic might as well have been based on Old Mother Hubbard."

"At 3,307 playdates, pic was the fifth-widest opening ever. The four titles ahead of it, "Godzilla," "Austin Powers 2," "Wild Wild West" and "Scream 3," each managed at least $34 million.

Even 1998's "Lost in Space," whose 3,306 runs trailed "Battlefield" by just one on the all-time list, had a $20 million opening."