It’s official. Michael Moore’s controversial documentary, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” has pulled of a box office coup, racking up another $5 million this past weekend to bring the total gross to $103.35 million since the film’s June 25 premiere. The previous record was set, ironically, by Moore himself with 2002’s “Bowling for Columbine,” which had a total gross of $21.6 million. “Fahrenheit 9/11” grossed $23.9 million its first weekend alone.

To say that this film is controversial is an understatement. And the ripple affect goes far beyond Hollywood. Take for example the recent incident in Las Vegas where singer Linda Ronstadt was booed off the stage for expressing her support of Moore and his film. Politics have become a hot topic and this increase in interest and discussion will undoubtedly have an impact on the upcoming Presidential election.

Moore agrees, stating, 'I believe the film is going to bring hundreds of thousands of people to the polls who otherwise were not going to vote.” Sony will be releasing the video/DVD version of the film and Moore is hoping that this will occur before the November elections.

It will be interesting to see whether or not The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will recognize Moore’s achievements with an Oscar nomination. Has Moore become “too hot to handle?” Certainly, he has never been shy when it comes to expressing his political beliefs – his acceptance speech after winning an Oscar for “Bowling for Columbine” is evidence of that. But in a sagging economy, any film that can generate these kinds of dollars and discussions, would be hard to ignore.

Moore is expected to attend the Democratic Convention today as a guest of the Congressional Black Caucus. But don’t expect the Kerry-Edwards people to embrace him! In an attempt to distance the candidates from Moore, Kerry’s campaign manager, Chad Clanton, recently told an interviewer, “I can't speak for every extremist out there. Michael Moore - these people aren't part of the Kerry campaign.' Perhaps not, but certainly, all of this controversy is not going to hurt John Kerry in his bid for the Presidency.