Weekend of January 23 – 25, 2008

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” topped the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with $21.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Steve Carr’s family comedy starring Kevin James as a mall security guard successfully fought off its competition, lifting its domestic gross to an impressive $64 million after only two weeks in release.

Following closely in second place was new entry “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” which took home $20.7 million but failed to beat the $26.8 million opening weekend gross of its predecessor, “Underworld: Evolution.”

Things didn’t go so well for “Inkheart,” this weekend’s second wide release. The Iain Softley-directed adaptation of Cornelia Funke’s novel finished only in seventh place with $7.7 million. In the film, Brendan Fraser plays a man with the ability to bring characters out of books by reading them aloud.

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"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" continued its box office dominance Monday with $7.2 million in ticket sales. Steve Carr's comedy starring Kevin James lifted its total gross to $39 million.

Climbing to No. 2 with $5.4 million was Thor Freudenthal's "Hotel for Dogs," which brought its cumulative gross to $22.5 million. In the family film, Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin star as two siblings rescuing a bunch of stray dogs.

Meanwhile, Clint Eastwood's drama "Gran Torino" slipped to third place, earning $4.2 million for a total haul of $77.2 million. Following at No. 4 was "Notorious," which reached a domestic total of $24 million after Monday's earnings of $3.4 million.

Lionsgate's horror remake "My Bloody Valentine 3-D" took home another $2.9 million for a total of $24.2 million at No. 5, while Gary Winick's comedy "Bride Wars" finished in sixth place with a daily gross of $2.3 million and a cume of $39.8 million.

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

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.

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Weekend of January 9 – 11, 2009

Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” raced to the top of the North American box office this weekend with $29 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The film, which stars Eastwood as a veteran bonding with a Hmong teenager, easily shook off its competition after expanding into 2,808 theaters. Its domestic total currently stands at $40 million.

Debuting at No. 2 with $21.5 million was Gary Winick’s latest comedy “Bride Wars,” starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as best friends who become the worst enemies after their weddings are accidentally booked on the same day.

Meanwhile, new entry “The Unborn” finished third with $21 million. The David S. Goyer-directed horror flick focuses on a young woman (Odette Yustman) haunted by the spirit of an unborn child.

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Clint Eastwood's drama "Gran Torino" topped the North American box office Friday with $9.6 million in ticket sales. The film's domestic total currently stands at $20.6 million.

Debuting at No. 2 with $8.15 million was David S. Goyer's latest horror flick "The Unborn," which stars Odette Yustman as a young woman haunted by an evil spirit that wants to be born.

Closely following in third place was Gary Winick's comedy "Bride Wars," which collected $8.1 million. Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson star as two best friends who launch into a bitter feud when their weddings are booked on the same day.

Meanwhile, "Marley & Me" picked up $3.2 million at No. 4, lifting its cumulative gross to $115.5 million. David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" pulled in $2.9 million in fifth place, reaching a total gross of $87.8 million.

Other results from Friday's box office results: "Bedtime Stories" earned $2.2 million; "Valkyrie" took home $2.1 million; Jim Carrey's "Yes Man" pulled $2 million; and new entry "Not Easily Broken" collected $1.9 million.

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