02.10-12.2012: Weekend Box Office – The $

Posted by on Feb 13, 2012 in Box Office, Film

Audiences said “I Do” to Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum in the based-on-a-true-story The Vow as they celebrated the perfect Valentine’s Day movie with heartbreaking romance.  The Michael Sucsy (TV’s Grey Gardens) film was the #1 of four premieres, grossing $41.202 million to its $30 million production budget.

Good Ryan Reynolds versus evil Denzel Washington in director Daniel Espinosa’s first US feature, #2 Safe House, also broke the $40 million mark at $40.172 million.  2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth with Brendan Fraser was surpassed by Dwayne Johnson and sort-of sequel #3 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island with $27.335 million, which also stars Josh Hutcherson returning as Sean Anderson.  Last but not least of the four was Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 3D.

George Lucas’ umpteenth (ok, eight) re-release of a Star Wars episode was a first in 3D.  Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which was originally released in May 1999 and remained #1 for three consecutive weekends, grossed $22.469 million in its 3D form at 2,655 theaters.  The overall current domestic gross for the first (or fourth, depending on your viewpoint) film of the franchise is $453.558 million and $513.7 million in foreign gross.

Last weekend’s surprise #1, Chronicle, dropped four spots to #5.  The found footage and found super powers movie grossed $12.092 million, equivalent to its budget.  It was a 45% decrease.  Meanwhile, Chronicle‘s fellow debut film of the previous weekend, The Woman in Black, grossed $10.102 million, a 51.6% decrease.  The two movies each added one theater to its 2,000+ screening theaters.

Underworld: Awakening in its fourth weekend in the top ten, was edged out to #10 after spending three weeks in the top five.  The $2.48 million grossing movie has earned more overseas with $71.1 million in comparison to $58.914 million domestically.

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