'The Artist' wins seven awards at BAFTAs including best picture, director

"The Artist" picked up seven awards including best picture at the 64th BAFTA Awards, the British equivalent of the Academy Awards, held today in the Royal Opera House in Covent Harden.

"The Artist" won 7 awards Sunday.

The silent film, which had earned 12 nominations, also took home the prize for best leading actor for Jean Dujardin and best director for Michel Hazanavicius, as well as original screenplay, cinematography, original music and costume design.

Meanwhile, the spy thriller "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" was named outstanding British film for the year and was also awarded for best original screenplay.

Meryl Streep won best leading actress for her role as former prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The supporting categories went to the presumed frontrunners in Christopher Plummer ("The Beginners") and Octavia Spencer ("The Help").

In the animated category, Gore Verbinski's "Rango" beat out "The Adventures of Tintin" for the prize.

Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" was awarded for production design and sound. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," took home the prize for special effects.

The award show will air in the U.S. on BBC America tonight (Sunday) at 8 p.m. and again at 11:40.

A full list of the winners and nominees can be seen below:

'The Vow,' 'Safe House' lead record-breaking box office weekend

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.

"The Vow" earned $41.7 million.

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)

'The Lion King' re-release rules the box office

Seventeen years after Disney's "The Lion King" first hit theaters, the 3-D re-release managed to earn more than the other three films making their first debut this past weekend...combined.

"The Lion King" earned $30.1 million.

"Lion King" grabbed $30.1 million over the weekend, good enough for the fourth highest September opening in history and more than any movie has earned since the first weekend of August, when "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" earned $54 million in its debut.

Of course, the re-release benefited from the premium prices which go along with 3-D, but there's no denying "The Lion King" ruled the box office this weekend.

Last week's box office champ, "Contagion," fell to second place with $14.5 million and a two-week total of $44.2 million.

The critically praised "Drive" fared the best of the (true) newcomers with $11.4 million. "The Help" continues its strong--and lengthy--run at the box office, cleaning up another $6.5 million in its sixth week in theaters for a total of $147.4 million.

The "Straw Dogs" remake couldn't sniff out an audience, earning only $5.1 million for the weekend, figuring out to a paltry $2,128 per theater. Faring even worse was the Sarah Jessica Parker-starring "I Don't Know How She Does It," which earned only $4.4 million with an extra 68 theaters compared to "Straw Dogs."

"The Debt" followed with $2.9 million in its third weekend, while "Warrior" drew in $2.8 million in its second. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" ($2.6 million) and "Columbiana" ($2.3 million) rounded out the top 10.

The top ten grosses of the weekend (based on actual returns released today) were:

1. "The Lion King," $30,151,614 (New)
2. "Contagion," $14,548,433 ($44.2 million) 
3. "Drive," $11,340,461 (New) 
4. "The Help," $6,513,039 (Total: $147.4 million)
5. "Straw Dogs," $5,123,760 (New) 
6. "I Don't Know How She Does It," $4,402,201 (New)
7. "The Debt," $2,942,631 (Total: $26.5 million)
8. "Warrior," $2,860,325 ($10 million) 
9. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $2,658,131 (Total: $171.6 million)
10. "Colombiana," $2,330,291 ($33.3 million)

'Contagion' sweeps through the weekend box office

"Contagion" infected the box office this weekend, producing the largest box office gross in a month to take the number one spot.

"Contagion" grossed $23.1 million.

The Steven Soderbergh-directed ensemble thriller earned an estimated $23.1 million in its debut weekend, the largest three-day total since the weekend of Aug. 12, during which "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" earned $27.5 million in its second week.

Since that time, there have been significantly more box office failures than successes, with the lone bright spot being "The Help," which dropped to number two this weekend after three straight weeks in the top spot. The film earned $8.7 million in its fifth week in theaters for a total of $137 million.

The mix-martial arts drama "Warrior" didn't have much of a punch, earning $5.6 million in its debut weekend, the only other newcomer to make it into the top 10.

Last week's number two film, "The Debt," fell to number four with $4.9 million and a total of $21 million.

"Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," the other wide release of the weekend, utterly failed to shine, finishing with $1.4 million in 15th place. It's notable that the limited release "Laugh at My Pain" outdrew "Bucky Larson" with $2 million in only 97 theaters compared to the latter's 1,977

The weekend's top 10 grossing films according to studio estimates were: 

1. "Contagion," $23,135,000 (New)
2. "The Help," $8,691,000 (Total: $137 million)
3. "Warrior," $5,607,000 (New) 
4. "The Debt," $4,905,000 (Total: $21.9 million)
5. "Colombiana," $4,000,000 ($29.7 million)
6. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $3,875,000 (Total: $167.8 million) 
7. "Shark Night 3D," $3,533,000 ($14.8 million)  
8. "Apollo 18," $2,913,000 ($15 million)
9. "Our Idiot Brother," $2,761,000 ($21.4 million)
10. "Sky Kids: All the Time in the World," $2,506,000 ($34.2 million)

Weekend Box Office: 'The Debt' leads newcomers at the box office; 'The Help' stays on top

August's box office woes continued into the first weekend of September, with three new movies once again failing to unseat "The Help" from its number one position.

"The Debt" earned $9.6 million.

"The Help," which became the first movie since "Inception" to top the box office chart three weeks in a row, earned $14.2 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its total to $118 million. The film only dropped 2.3 percent compared its total last week.

"The Debt," starring Hellen Mirren, led the newcomers with  $9.6 million, good enough for second place, according to studio estimates. Although not a great opening total, it made its money on significantly fewer screens than its competition, 1,800 compared to 2,800 for "The Help" and "Shark Night 3D" and 3,300 for "Apollo 18."

Speaking of the horror thrillers, "Apollo 18" debuted with $8.7 million, with "Shark Night 3D" just behind at $8,640,000.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" continued its strong run, picking up $7.8 million in its fifth week for a total of $160 million.

Last week's "Columbiana" fell a respectable 28 percent to hold at sixth place, followed by "Our Idiot Brother" with $5.1 million and "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" with $4.9 million. "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World" and "The Smurfs" rounded out the top 10.

With Labor Day on Monday, the films are expected to increase their holiday weekend totals, which will be reported tomorrow.

The three-day weekend top ten was as follows:

1. "The Help," $14,209,000 (Total: $118.6 million)
2. "The Debt," $9,667,000 (Total: $11.5 million)
3. "Apollo 18," $8,700,000 (New)
4. "Shark Night 3D," $8,640,000 (New) 
5. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $7,800,000 (Total: $160 million)
6. "Colombiana," $7,400,000 ($21.9 million)
7. "Our Idiot Brother," $5,182,000 ($15.4 million)
8. "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," $4,941,000 ($16.3 million)
9. "Sky Kids: All the Time in the World," $4,637,000 ($29 million)
10. "The Smurfs," $4,000,000 (Total: $131.9 million)

Hurricane Irne helps 'The Help' to another victory

With the northeast facing Hurricane Irene, it was not a great weekend at the box office, with "The Help" holding onto the top spot for the second week in a row while another trio of newcomers disappointed.

'The Help' held onto the top spot.

"The Help" earned $14.5 million during its third weekend, bringing its total to $96 million and making it the second highest grossing film of the month, behind "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."

The prequel/reboot fell to third place this weekend with $8.9 million in its fourth week of release for a total of $148 million. (The studios released the weekend's actual box office grosses today.)

Of the newcomers, Luc Besson's "Columbiana" fared the best, with $10.4 million, good enough for second place. Directed by Oliver Megaton, the film, like most of Besson's works, was made on a smaller than average budget ($40 million). The opening for "Columbiana" was slightly higher than Besson's last film, "From Paris with Love" ($8.1 million), which went on to earn $24 million domestically and $52 million worldwide, equaling its production budget.

The horror film "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," starring Katie Holmes, scared up $8.5 million in its debut weekend. Produced and written by Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth"), the movie was made for $25 million.

Opening in fifth place with $7 million was "Our Idiot Brother." Although the comedy boasted a paltry $2,700 per screen average, its tiny $5 million budget should help The Weinstein Company make its money back, depending on how much they spent on promotions.

Faring even worse were last weekend's holdovers, with "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," "Conan the Barbarian" and "Fright Night" all taking significant hits in their second week, dropping 48 percent, 68 percent and 59 percent respectively. With a production budget of $90 million and only $16.6 million to show for it, "Conan" is making a case for one of the biggest box office bombs of the summer.

"The Smurfs," one of the only other films to find an audience this month (although it debuted the last weekend of July), held relatively strong with $4.5 million in its fifth week for a total of $125 million.

The weekend's top 10 films were as follows:

1. "The Help," $14,536,118 (Total: $96.8 million)
2. "Columbiana," $10,408,176 (New)
3. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $8,867,741 (Total: $148.6 million)
4. "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," $8,525,728 (New)
5. "Our Idiot Brother," $7,011,631 (New) 
6. "Sky Kids: All the Time in the World," $6,007,180 ($21.9 million)
7. "The Smurfs," $4,754,766 (Total: $125.9 million)
8. "Conan the Barbarian." $3,185,094 ($16.6 million)
9. "Crazy, Stupid, Love," $3,108,178 (Total: $69.7 million)
10. "Fright Night," $3,103,227 ($14.2 million)

'The Help' helps itself to the weekend box office crown

For the second week in a row, a bevy of newcomers crashed and burned at the U.S. box office, while last week's number two film, "The Help," rose to the top, continuing its impressive run.

"The Help" earned $16.3 million.

"The Help" scored $16.3 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates, falling only 21.4 percent from its debut, for a total of $71.8 million over 12 days. Made for a reported $25 million, the film has been of the few success stories of the late summer season.

Meanwhile, last week's number one film, "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes," swapped positions with "The Help," finishing its third weekend with $16.3 million for a total of $133 million.

Unfortunately for their rivals, "Rise" and "The Help" have been the only August releases to find any success at the box office.

Of the four new films to debut this weekend, "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World" fared the best with $12 million on a budget of $27 million. The fourth film in director Robert Rodriguez's children's series arrived eight years after the last installment and opened to little more than a third of what 2003's "Spy Kids 3D: Game Over" did. The long wait in between movies forced the introduction of new spy kids, while the earlier films' original audience is now either in high school or college.

The remake "Conan the Barbarian" likewise failed to find its original's audience, looting a paltry $10 million from the box office. The film had the largest budget--$90 million--of the weekend debuts, and therefore the most to prove and the most the lose.

"Fright Night," another 1980s remake, did little better, scoring only $7.9 million but with one third the budget.

Rounding out the newcomers, the romantic drama "One Day" barely make it into the weekend's top 10 with $5.1 million. It's budget is reported to be $15 million.

Among the rest, "The Smurfs" continued to produce strong returns, drawing $8 million in its fourth weekend for a total of $117 million. Last weekend's other movies--"Final Destination 5" and "30 Minutes or Less"--both dropped more than 50 percent after failing to impress during their debuts.

The weekend's top 10 films were as follows:

1. "The Help," $20,479,000 (Total: $71.8 million)
2. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $16,300,000 (Total: $133.7 million)
3. "Sky Kids: All the Time in the World," $12,020,000 (New)
4. "Conan the Barbarian." $10,000,000 (New)
5. "The Smurfs," $8,000,000 (Total: $117.7 million)
6. "Fright Night," $7,900,000 (New)
7. "Final Destination 5," $18,400,000 ($32.3 million)
8. "30 Minutes or Less," $6,300,000 ($25.7 million)
9. "One Day," $5,128,000 (New)
10. "Crazy, Stupid, Love," $4,950,000 (Total: $64.4 million)

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' rules box office for a second weekend

The apes continued their conquest of the domestic box office this weekend, with "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" remaining on top for the second straight week, according to studio estimates.

The film earned $27.5 million.

The reboot raised $27.5 million over the weekend, crossing the $100 million mark on Sunday. Made on a budget of $97 million, the film has earned $179 million worldwide after 10 days in theaters. Its writers recently said in an interview that they envision a trilogy, and with numbers like these, their dream may become reality.

Finishing in a strong second was newcomer "The Help," based on the best-selling novel from author Kathryn Stockett. Starting off strong on Wednesday, the film maintained its momentum through Sunday, finishing with $25.5 million for the weekend and $34.4 million over five days.

The news wasn't nearly as good for the other three films making their debuts. "Final Destination 5" had to settle for third place with $18.4 million, well short of last year's "The Final Destination," which opened with $27.4 million. It was the first film in the franchise to not build on its predecessor's opening and the smallest opening since "Final Destination 2" debuted with $16 million in 2003. Perhaps death has finally come to claim its last victim.

"30 Minutes or Less," which saw director Ruben Fleischer re-team with his "Zombieland' star Jesse Eisenberg for another edgy comedy, didn't live up to expectations, with "30 Minutes or Less" earning only $13 million, short of "Zombieland, which debuted with $24.7 million and went on to earn $75.5 million.

Even worse was "Glee The 3D Concert Movie," the documentary chronicling the world tour featuring the cast of Fox's hit musical series. The film failed to crack the top ten, grossing $5.7 million over the weekend. The saving grace for the documentary is that it was reportedly made for a low budget of less than $10 million.

The weekend's top 10 were as follows:

1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes," $27,500,000 (Total: $104.9 million)
2. "The Help," $25,525,000 (Total: $34.4 million)
3. "Final Destination 5," $18,400,000 (New)
4. "The Smurfs," $13,500,000 (Total: $101.5 million)
5. "30 Minutes or Less," $13,000,000 (New)
6. "Cowboys & Aliens," $7,613,000 (Total: $84.5 million)
7. "Captain America: The First Avenger," $7,125,000 (Total: $156.9 million)
8. "Crazy, Stupid, Love," $6,930,000 (Total: $55.4 million)
9. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," $6,875,000 (Total: $357 million)
10. "The Change-Up," $6,219,000 (Total: $25.8 million)

11. "Glee The 3D Concert Movie," $5,700,000 (New)