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Cruise, Holmes Skip 'War' Party

AP
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in New York.
If they were there, no one saw them.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes apparently skipped the big after-party for the New York premiere of "War of the Worlds" last night.

No big deal: Sources also say that the Steven Spielberg science-fiction remake is the most expensive film of all time.

My spies — since no press was allowed — did spot Spielberg and wife Kate Capshaw. They also saw actress Amy Irving, the first Mrs. Spielberg, and the couple's son, Max Spielberg.

"Amy even went and got a drink for Kate," said an observer. "It's nice that they're friends."

Alec Baldwin, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon and many movie execs made the move from the Ziegfeld to the American Museum of Natural History.

Pat O'Brien, host of Paramount TV's "The Insider," unsurprisingly scored a ticket. Add Hulk Hogan and Nicole Richie to the mix and you get the idea of who turned out for the big night.

But those who audited the comings and goings of Cruise and Holmes couldn't find them. Funniest part of the night: the overzealous screening process.

Women were not allowed to bring purses into the premiere. Men were told to have nothing but wallets. No cell phones.

Paramount is terrified of piracy. It thought someone in this high-toned crowd would do a "Kramer" and film "War of the Worlds" with a HandiCam. Cruise's sister/publicist, Lee Ann DeVette, was seen waiting on a line for her own handbag after the show.

Meantime, I've got a solid new figure for the budget on "War of the Worlds." Are you ready?

Not counting promotion: $182 million. With promotion, think more like $230 million.

And the word from those who saw the movie? Mixed reviews: The ending peters out, but the special effects when the Martians come were given high marks.

"Tim Robbins steals the movie from Tom Cruise," says a source.