Weekend of January 16 – 18, 2009

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” secured the top spot at the North American box office this weekend with $33.8 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Sony’s Steve Carr-directed family comedy stars Kevin James as a devoted security guard struggling to protect his mall against a bunch of ruthless crooks. The film just fell short of surpassing the $34.2 million opening weekend gross of James’ previous big-screen comedy, “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.”

Still going strong at No. 2 was Clint Eastwood’s drama “Gran Torino,” which earned $22.2 million for a total gross of $73.2 million after six weeks in release. Eastwood stars as a racist Korean War vet who forms an unlikely bond with a Hmong teenager living next door.

Debuting in third place with $21.9 million was Patrick Lussier’s remake “My Bloody Valentine 3-D.” The film focuses on what happens in the mining town of Harmony 10 years after a bloody Valentine’s Day massacre.

Meanwhile, Fox Searchlight’s biopic “Notorious” finished fourth with an impressive $21.5 million at 1,638 locations. The film chronicles the short life and fame of East Coast rapper Biggie Smalls, also known as Notorious B.I.G.

Also storming the top five was new release “Hotel for Dogs,” which took home $17.7 million. Directed by Thor Freudenthal and starring Emma Roberts, the family adventure follows two siblings on their quest to rescue stray dogs and hide them in an abandoned hotel.

Slipping to No. 6 was Gary Winick’s comedy “Bride Wars,” which brought its domestic gross to $37.5 million after this weekend’s earnings of $11.7 million. Following in seventh place with $9.8 million was “The Unborn,” which lifted its cumulative gross to $33 million after two weeks in release.

Jumping to No. 8 after expanding to 1,789 locations was Edward Zwick’s WWII drama “Defiance,” which picked up $9.2 million for a total haul of $9.5 million. “Marley & Me” dropped to No. 9, collecting $6.3 million for a $132.7 million cume.

Rounding out the top 10 this weekend was Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” which pulled another $5.9 million to reach a total gross of $42.7 million after a 10-week release.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)