comedyfreak
01-04-2009, 05:20 PM
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - " Marley & Me ," a canine comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson , led the North American box office for a second weekend on Sunday, becoming the first Christmas holiday picture to hit $ 100 million .
The 20th Century Fox movie earned $24.1 million during the three days beginning Friday, taking its 11-day haul to $106.5 million.
Bert Livingston, senior vice-president of domestic distribution at the News Corp -owned studio, said it was too early to predict where the picture would end up, but "It's still got a lot of money in it." "Marley & Me" is based on John Grogan 's tear-jerker memoir about a couple and their lovable Labrador retriever.
The rankings of the top seven pictures were unchanged from last weekend as no new films opened in wide release. The Adam Sandler comedy " Bedtime Stories " was No. 2 with $20.3 million, and a total of $85.4 million. The Brad Pitt drama " The Curious Case of Benjamin Button " was No. 3 with $18.4 million, and a total of $79.0 million. As with "Marley & Me," they were released on Christmas Day .
Tom Cruise 's Hitler-assassination thriller "Valkyrie," another Christmas Day release , was No. 4 with $14.0 million and a total of $60.7 million. Jim Carrey 's former chart-topper "Yes Man" followed with $13.9 million and a 17-day haul of $79.4 million.
The focus is now shifting to Oscar contenders that are about to expand nationally after playing for several weeks in limited release. Among them is actor/director Clint Eastwood's " Gran Torino ," which has earned $9.7 million after playing in under 100 theaters for four weekends. The neighborhood comedy-drama will widen to about 2,700 theaters on Friday.
Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)
This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative
Gross Rlse
Wks # of
Theaters
1 1 Marley & Me 20th Century Fox Distribution $24,050,000 $106,510,000 2 3505
2 2 Bedtime Stories Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $20,317,000 $85,351,000 2 3684
3 3 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Paramount Pictures $18,400,000 $79,011,000 2 2988
4 4 Valkyrie MGM Distribution Company $14,042,000 $60,692,000 2 2778
5 5 Yes Man Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $13,850,000 $79,413,000 3 3434
6 6 Seven Pounds Sony Pictures Releasing $10,000,000 $60,038,000 3 2758
7 7 The Tale of Despereaux Universal Pictures $7,020,000 $43,742,000 3 3091
8 10 Doubt Miramax Films $5,031,000 $18,730,000 4 1287
9 8 The Day the Earth Stood Still 20th Century Fox Distribution $4,850,000 $74,299,000 4 2337
10 13 Slumdog Millionaire Fox Searchlight Pictures $4,770,000 $28,779,000 8 612
11 12 Twilight Summit Entertainment, LLC $4,530,000 $176,815,000 7 1888
12 14 Bolt Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $3,271,000 $109,897,000 7 1729
The 20th Century Fox movie earned $24.1 million during the three days beginning Friday, taking its 11-day haul to $106.5 million.
Bert Livingston, senior vice-president of domestic distribution at the News Corp -owned studio, said it was too early to predict where the picture would end up, but "It's still got a lot of money in it." "Marley & Me" is based on John Grogan 's tear-jerker memoir about a couple and their lovable Labrador retriever.
The rankings of the top seven pictures were unchanged from last weekend as no new films opened in wide release. The Adam Sandler comedy " Bedtime Stories " was No. 2 with $20.3 million, and a total of $85.4 million. The Brad Pitt drama " The Curious Case of Benjamin Button " was No. 3 with $18.4 million, and a total of $79.0 million. As with "Marley & Me," they were released on Christmas Day .
Tom Cruise 's Hitler-assassination thriller "Valkyrie," another Christmas Day release , was No. 4 with $14.0 million and a total of $60.7 million. Jim Carrey 's former chart-topper "Yes Man" followed with $13.9 million and a 17-day haul of $79.4 million.
The focus is now shifting to Oscar contenders that are about to expand nationally after playing for several weeks in limited release. Among them is actor/director Clint Eastwood's " Gran Torino ," which has earned $9.7 million after playing in under 100 theaters for four weekends. The neighborhood comedy-drama will widen to about 2,700 theaters on Friday.
Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)
This Wk Last Wk Title Dist. Weekend Gross Cumulative
Gross Rlse
Wks # of
Theaters
1 1 Marley & Me 20th Century Fox Distribution $24,050,000 $106,510,000 2 3505
2 2 Bedtime Stories Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $20,317,000 $85,351,000 2 3684
3 3 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Paramount Pictures $18,400,000 $79,011,000 2 2988
4 4 Valkyrie MGM Distribution Company $14,042,000 $60,692,000 2 2778
5 5 Yes Man Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution $13,850,000 $79,413,000 3 3434
6 6 Seven Pounds Sony Pictures Releasing $10,000,000 $60,038,000 3 2758
7 7 The Tale of Despereaux Universal Pictures $7,020,000 $43,742,000 3 3091
8 10 Doubt Miramax Films $5,031,000 $18,730,000 4 1287
9 8 The Day the Earth Stood Still 20th Century Fox Distribution $4,850,000 $74,299,000 4 2337
10 13 Slumdog Millionaire Fox Searchlight Pictures $4,770,000 $28,779,000 8 612
11 12 Twilight Summit Entertainment, LLC $4,530,000 $176,815,000 7 1888
12 14 Bolt Buena Vista Pictures Distribution $3,271,000 $109,897,000 7 1729