'The Grey' leaves the competition for the wolves

Liam Neeson's "The Grey" froze the competition, taking the weekend box office crown with $19.6 million, leaving its competition for the wolves.

The film earned $19.6 million.

Last weekend's number one film, "Underworld Awakening" dropped to second place with $12.3 million for a two-week total of $44 million. The film has a ways to go before it recoups its reported $70 million production budget. It's $40 million foreign total to date should help with that though.

The bounty hunter comedy "One for the Money" debuted in third place with $11.5 million, while George Lucas' "Red Tails" fell two stops to number four, grossing $10.3 million in its second weekend.

The third wide-release debut was "Man on a Ledge," which had to settle for fifth place and $8 million.

Several Academy Award best picture nominees saw their theater counts jump after last week's announcements, with the George Clooney-staring "The Descendants" jumping back into the top ten at number eight with $6.4 million. The film is now is full wide release with more than 2,000 screens.

"The Artist" finished just out of the top 10 in 12th place after expanding to almost 900 screens, grossing $3.3 million for the weekend, raising its total to $16.7 million.

The complete list of the weekend's top 10 grossing films is:

1. "The Grey," $19.6 million (New)
2. "Underworld Awakening," $12.3 million (Total: $44.9 million)
3. "One for the Money," $11.5 million (New)
4. "Red Tails," $10.3 million (Total: $33.7 million)
5. "Man on a Ledge," $8 million (New)
6. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," $6.9 million (Total: $20.9 million)
7. "Contraband," $6.7 million (Total: $56.5 million)
8. "The Descendants," $6.4 million (Total: $58.7 million)
9. "Beauty and the Beast 3D," $5.3 million (Total: $41.1 million) 
 10. "Haywire," $4 million (Total: $15.2 million)

Westeins, Relativity settle 'The Crow' lawsuit

The lawsuit between The Weinstein Co. and Relativity over "The Crow" remake has been settled and the companies will work together on the production

The companies released the following statement: "The lawsuit between Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company concerning THE CROW has been amicably settled out of court, and the parties will continue to work on the film together as planned. In addition, Relativity Media has dismissed all of its claims against The Weinstein Company for any wrongdoing regarding the release and distribution of NINE, and The Weinstein Company has dismissed all of its claims against Relativity Media."

The original film hit theaters in 1994.

The Weinstein Co. sued Relativity in April, claiming the company broke an existing contract between the two over the exclusive worldwide distribution rights of the film.

According to the suit, the Weinsteins claim that Relativity owner Ryan Kavanaugh "decided that Relativity would not perform that contract and will purport to sell TWC's distribution rights to others here and overseas in willful breach of the contract."

Relativity in turn rejected the suit and claimed the Weinsteins failed to uphold their distribution agreement for 2009's "Nine," which was partially financed by Relativity.

A remake of the 1994 original, "The Crow" will be a "gritty reboot of the gothic iconic character Eric Draven, who returns from the grave as The Crow on a mission to avenge his wife’s murder, so that his soul can finally rest."

"Watchmen" scribe Alex Tse was pegged to write the screenplay. Actor Bradley Cooper was at one pointed attached to play Draven, but has since pulled out of the project. The role was famously played by Brandon Lee, who was killed by an on-set accident.

'Underworld" takes a bite out of the weekend box office

"Underworld Awakening," the fourth film in the vampires versus werewolves franchise proved their still life in the undead series, leading the weekend box office with $25.3 million.

The movie grossed $25.2 in its debut.

The George Lucas-produced "Red Tails," documenting the real-life accomplishments of African American pilots during World War II, came in second with $18.7 million.

Last week's champ, "Contraband," fell to third with $12 million. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" expanded into wide release in its fifth weekend jumping to fourth place with $10 million.

Rounding out the top five was the 3D re-release of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" with $8.7 million followed by newcomer "Haywire," which debuted in sixth place with $8.4 million.

The complete list of the weekend's top 10 grossing films is:

1. "Underworld Awakening," $25.3 million (New)
2. "Red Tails," $18.7 million (New)
3. "Contraband," $12 million (Total: $45.9 million)
4. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," $10 million (Total: $10.7 million)
5. "Beauty and the Beast 3D," $8.7 million (Total: $33.5 million) 
6. "Haywire," $8.4 million (New)
7. "Joyful Noise," $5.9 million (Total: $21.7 million)
8. "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," $5.5 million (Total: $197.3 million)
9. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $4.5 million (Total: $178.3 million) 
10. "The Iron Lady," $3.6 million (Total: $12.5 million)

'Contraband' steal holiday box office crown

Mark Wahlberg's "Contraband" stole the box office crown, pulling in a better-than-expected $24.5 million over the four-day holiday weekend.

'Contraband' earned $24.5 million.

Disney's 3D re-release of its classic "Beauty and the Beast" performed quite well in second place with $17.7 million.

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" continued its solid performance, dropping to third place in its fifth week with $11.7 million and a cumulative total of $186 million.

Rounding out the weekend's new wide releases was the Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah-starring "Joyful Noise," which drew $11.2 million.

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" has been another successful December holdover and added $8.6 million over the four-day period.

Last weekend's surprise champ, "The Devil Inside," however, plummeted 76 percent in its second week, collecting only $8 million.

Expanding into a semi-wide release of 800 theaters, "The Iron Lady" just missed the top 10, collecting $5.4 million.

The complete list of the top 10 grossing films is:

1. "Contraband," $24.5 million (New)
2. "Beauty and the Beast 3D," $17.7 million (New)
3. "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," $11.7 million ($186.9 million)
4. "Joyful Noise," $11.2 million (New)
5. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $8.6 million ($170.2 million) 
6. "The Devil Inside," $8 million ($46.3 million)
7. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," $6.7 million (Total: $87.8 million)
8. "War Horse," $5.9 million ($66.1 million)
9. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," $5.9 million ($118.8 million) 
10. "We Bought a Zoo," $5.5 million (Total: $64 million)

'Thor 2' getting a rewrite by 'Saving Private Ryan' scribe

"Thor 2" is getting a rewrite, continuing the sequel's pre-production struggles.

"Thor" earned $449 million worldwide.

According to Deadline, "Saving Private Ryan" writer Robert Rodat has been brought in by Marvel STudios to take a crack at the script.

In December, the studio brought in "Game of Thrones" director Alan Taylor to replace Patty Jenkins, who left the project over creative differences.

"Thor 2" has been set for a 2013 release, but it is not clear whether this latest issue will affect that timetable.

The sequel will feature Chris Hemsworth, who will reprise his role as Thor. The actor will next play the character in "The Avengers," which hits theaters this summer.

Meanwhile, Jaimie Alexander, who played Thor's ally Sif, told MTV that while she does not have a contract in place for "Thor 2," she has been in talks and also has several ideas about where she would like to see the character go.

"I'm a comic book nerd at heart, so I'd like to see the relationship between Thor and Sif progress," she said. "Whether or not they do that, we're not sure yet. We'll see. I think that element will be in there, but I don’t know how much."

"Hunger Games" actress Isabelle Fuhrman joins "After Earth"

"Orphan" star Isabelle Fuhrman, who will next appear as Clove in "The Hunger Games," is in talks to join M. Night Shyamalan's "After Earth."

Isabelle Fuhrman

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fuhrman would join Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith in the film as the younger Smith's friend Rayna.

Formerly titled "1000 A.E.," the film is set in the far future after humanity abandoned Earth. The Smiths crash-land on Earth and must find a way to survive.

The cast also includes Zoe Kravitz ("X-Men: First Class") and Sophie Okonedo ("Hotel Rwanda").

"After Earth" is set to begin filming in March and hit theatres in June 2013.

'The Devil Inside' possesses weekend box office

The new year got off to a surprisingly fast start thanks to an over-performing horror film that's getting decided mixed reviews from audiences.

The surprise winner earned $34.5 million.

The low budget, found-footage horror film "The Devil Inside" dominated the weekend box office, grossing an estimated $34.5 million, good for the third highest grossing January weekend ever behind 2008's "Cloverfield" and the 1997 re-release of "Star Wars."

Paramount picked up the film for only $1 million and managed to make its money back on the Thursday midnight showings alone. The downside was the incredibly poor reception from those who did see the movie, leading to a rare "F" CinemaScore.

Following in second place was "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," which picked up $20.5 million in its fourth weekend.

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" also performed dutifully in its fourth weekend, bringing in slightly more than $14 million.

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" had the smallest weekend to weekend drop-off of any returning film in the top 10, finishing with $11.3 million. It still has some ground to make up with a total gross over three weeks of $76 million compared to its $90 million production budget.

Rounding out the top five was "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" with $9.5 million.

Meanwhile, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" expanded into a semi-wide release on some 800 screens, grossing $5.7 million and placing ninth in its fifth week.

The top 10 grossing films were:

1. "The Devil Inside," $34.5 million (New)
2. "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," $20.5 million ($170.2 million) 
3. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $14 million ($157.4 million) 
4. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," $11.3 million (Total: $76.8 million)
5. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," $9.5 million ($111.5 million) 
6. "War Horse," $8.6 million ($56.8 million)
7. "We Bought a Zoo," $8.4 million (Total: $56.5 million)
8. "The Adventures of Tintin," $6.6 million ($61.8 million) 
9. "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," $5.7 million (Total: $10.4 million)
10. "New Year's Eve," $3.2 million ($52 million)