A Warner Bros. exec had been smugly referring to the coming " 'Cobra' Summer," anticipating that Sly's picture would mow down the competition.
Funny thing happened on the way to the box office: Paramount Pic's "Top Gun" is the higher flyer.
Grosses: "Cobra," on 2,117 screens after 19 days of release, $35.5 million; "Gun," with 1,531 screens after 26 days, $45.4 million. "Cobra" attendance has been dropping steadily (down 52% the second weekend, down 33% the next). Even MGM's "Poltergeist II" (19 days, 1,583 screens, $27.9 million) is snaking close.
