Weekend of January 2 – 4, 2009

“Marley & Me” topped the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with $24 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

David Frankel’s family comedy starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston easily dominated its competition all week long, bringing its domestic total to an impressive $106.5 million after barely two weeks in release.

At No. 2, Adam Sandler’s latest comedy “Bedtime Stories” picked up another $20.3 million, reaching a total haul of $85.3 million. In the film, Sandler plays a hotel handyman whose bedtime stories become true the next day.

Meanwhile, David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” picked up $18.4 million in third place, lifting its cumulative gross to $79 million. Starring Brad Pitt, the movie follows the story of a man who mysteriously ages backwards.

Bryan Singer’s WWII drama “Valkyrie” clung to the No. 4 spot with a weekend gross of $14 million and a total of $60.6 million. Following in fifth place with $13.8 million was Jim Carrey’s “Yes Man,” which brought its domestic total to $79.4 million after three weeks in release.

At No. 6, Sony’s drama “Seven Pounds” took home $10 million for a cumulative gross of $60 million. Starring Will Smith, the movie follows an IRS agent who decides to drastically change the lives of seven strangers.

Also staying put in seventh place was “The Tale of Despereaux,” which reached a total gross of $43.7 million after this weekend’s earnings of $7 million.

Things changed a bit at the bottom of the top 10. “Doubt” climbed to No. 8 with $5 million ($18.7 million total), while “The Day The Earth Stood Still” slipped to ninth place with $4.8 million (cumulative of $74.2 million).

Also moving up was Danny Boyle’s acclaimed drama “Slumdog Millionaire,” which finished tenth with a weekend gross of $4.7 million and a domestic total of $28.7 million.

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