Romantic drama "The Vow" and the action thriller "Safe House" led the charge for a record-breaking weekend at the box office in which four films debuted with $20 million or more for the first time ever during a non-holiday weekend.
Additionally, if studio estimates hold up, "The Vow" and "Safe House" will be able to claim the sixth and 12th highest February openings respectively.
Starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, "The Vow" grossed $41.7 million, well above its reported $30 million budget. In a close second was "Safe House," featuring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, which took home $39.3 million, about half of its $80 million budget.
Dwayne Johnson's "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" was in third place with $27.5 million. The film is riding ahead of its predecessor, 2008's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," which debuted with $21 million. That film, which starred Brendan Fraser, went on to gross $101 million domestically and another $140 million in foreign markets. The sequel has a ways to go to make back its $79 million budget, but a strong early showing overseas, where the film has already earned $41 million, will help.
Meanwhile, George Lucas' odyssey to re-release his famous franchise in 3D began this weekend with "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," which had to settle for fourth place with $23 million. While it was good enough to set the record, it was barely a third of what the film did during its first release in February 2000. As for 3D re-releases, "Phantom Menace" finds itself in between "The Lion King," whose re-release boasted an opening weekend of $30 million, and "Beauty and the Beast," which earned $17.7 million in its first weekend back in theaters.
Rounding out the top five was last week's champ "Chronicle," which dropped 44 percent to $12.3 million. The film has grossed $40.1 million in two weeks, nearly quadrupling its $12 million budget.
"The Descendents" is continuing to have solid business, dropping one place to ninth with $3.5 million and a total of $70.7 million. It is currently the fourth highest grossing film among the nine Academy Award Best Picture nominees and it could find itself in second place by the time the Oscars air in two weeks. "The Help" remains the clear winner (money-wise, at least) in that category with $169 million, following by "War Horse" with $78 million and "Moneyball" with $75 million.
The complete list of the weekend's top 10 grossing films is:
1. "The Vow," $41.7 million (New)
2. "Safe House," $39.3 million (New)
3. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," $27.5 million (New)
4. "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in 3D)," $23 million (New)
5. "Chronicle," $12.3 million (Total: $40.1 million)
6. "The Woman in Black," $10.3 million (Total: $35.4 million)
7. "The Grey," $5 million (Total: $42.8 million)
8. "Big Miracle," $3.9 million (Total: $13.2 million)
9. "The Descendants," $3.5 million (Total: $70.7 million)
10. "Underworld Awakening," $2.5 million (Total: $58.9 million)
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| "The Vow" earned $41.7 million. |
Starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, "The Vow" grossed $41.7 million, well above its reported $30 million budget. In a close second was "Safe House," featuring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, which took home $39.3 million, about half of its $80 million budget.
Dwayne Johnson's "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" was in third place with $27.5 million. The film is riding ahead of its predecessor, 2008's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," which debuted with $21 million. That film, which starred Brendan Fraser, went on to gross $101 million domestically and another $140 million in foreign markets. The sequel has a ways to go to make back its $79 million budget, but a strong early showing overseas, where the film has already earned $41 million, will help.
Meanwhile, George Lucas' odyssey to re-release his famous franchise in 3D began this weekend with "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," which had to settle for fourth place with $23 million. While it was good enough to set the record, it was barely a third of what the film did during its first release in February 2000. As for 3D re-releases, "Phantom Menace" finds itself in between "The Lion King," whose re-release boasted an opening weekend of $30 million, and "Beauty and the Beast," which earned $17.7 million in its first weekend back in theaters.
Rounding out the top five was last week's champ "Chronicle," which dropped 44 percent to $12.3 million. The film has grossed $40.1 million in two weeks, nearly quadrupling its $12 million budget.
"The Descendents" is continuing to have solid business, dropping one place to ninth with $3.5 million and a total of $70.7 million. It is currently the fourth highest grossing film among the nine Academy Award Best Picture nominees and it could find itself in second place by the time the Oscars air in two weeks. "The Help" remains the clear winner (money-wise, at least) in that category with $169 million, following by "War Horse" with $78 million and "Moneyball" with $75 million.
The complete list of the weekend's top 10 grossing films is:
1. "The Vow," $41.7 million (New)
2. "Safe House," $39.3 million (New)
3. "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," $27.5 million (New)
4. "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in 3D)," $23 million (New)
5. "Chronicle," $12.3 million (Total: $40.1 million)
6. "The Woman in Black," $10.3 million (Total: $35.4 million)
7. "The Grey," $5 million (Total: $42.8 million)
8. "Big Miracle," $3.9 million (Total: $13.2 million)
9. "The Descendants," $3.5 million (Total: $70.7 million)
10. "Underworld Awakening," $2.5 million (Total: $58.9 million)
