'Valentine's Day' scores big at Friday box office

Romance rules at the box office...

It's been a great weekend for new releases at the North American box office as "Valentine's Day" scored the No. 1 spot Friday with a solid $14.6 million in ticket sales. The Garry Marshall-helmed romantic comedy is playing at 3,665 locations, making it hard for the competition to catch up.

Boosted by its all-star cast, "Day" follows what happens to several individuals and couples in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day. Critics around the nation slammed it with bad reviews, but the film easily found a large audience to make it to the top.

At No. 2, Universal's "The Wolfman" opened with $9.8 million; another decent start. Joe Johnston's horror flick with Benicio Del Toro is playing at 3,222 locations. Following in third place with $9.7 million was new entry "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief."

Meanwhile, James Cameron's "Avatar" slipped to No. 4, earning another $4.5 million, which is not bad, considering the film has been in release for 57 days. The film reached a domestic total gross of $642.1 million. "Dear John" finished fifth with a daily gross of $4.1 million and a total of $42 million.

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Movie Review: “Valentine’s Day”

Seen on: February 8, 2010

The players: Director: Garry Marshall, Writer: Katherine Fugate, Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Patrick Dempsey, Emma Roberts

Facts of interest: Garry Marshall also helmed "Pretty Woman."

The plot: The film follows a group of individuals from Los Angeles as they experience love in all forms on Valentine's Day.

Our thoughts: Garry Marshall’s new romantic comedy “Valentine’s Day” is a major big-screen drag. It’s a cheap, cold Hollywood rip-off of Richard Curtis’ incredibly entertaining and heartfelt “Love Actually,” and it completely fails to establish an attractive feeling of romance. In fact, it’s a film that turns Valentine’s Day into a real nightmare.

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Oh no! New Line confirms 'New Year's Eve'

I haven't seen "Valentine's Day" yet and obviously can't comment quite yet on whether it was a failure to make this film happen, but apparently, some studio folks out there think it was the best idea ever.

To top that, New Line Cinema has announced it will develop "New Year's Eve," a "Valentine's Day" spinoff that will take place on New Year's Eve in New York City and follow a bunch of people as they... celebrate?

Anyway, details are sketchy, but Variety says Katherine Fugate ("The Prince & Me," "Army Wives") will write the script. Plus, Garry Marshall, who helmed "Valentine's Day," is also expected to return as director. Release is planned for late 2011.

"Day" follows 10 Los Angeles people whose lives intersect on Valentine's Day. Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Bradley Cooper and Shirley MacLaine star, among others.

"Day" can obviously be considered an American version of "Love Actually," a film I adored. That said, I doubt this one will be just as romantic, charming and funny. At least it's got quite an awesome cast as well...

'Valentine's Day' keeps adding big names

Garry Marshall is really lining up an all-star cast for his upcoming romantic comedy "Valentine's Day," which is already shooting and set for release Feb. 12, 2010.

The latest to join the project are Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah and Carter Jenkins. These folks are already on board: Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace, Emma Roberts and Patrick Dempsey.

Yes, that is indeed quite an impressive cast, and I sure hope the film will be just as impressive. The story (written by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein) follows 10 Los Angeles people whose lives intersect on Valentine's Day.

The Hollywood Reporter says Foxx plays a TV reporter doing a story about Valentine's Day. Latifah plays an agent, while Jenkins plays a dude trying to sleep with this girlfriend (Emma Roberts).

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Topher Grace, Emma Roberts board 'Valentine's Day'

Topher Grace, Emma Roberts and Hector Elizondo have joined Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Bradley Cooper and Ashton Kutcher in "Valentine's Day."

Directed by Gary Marshall ("The Princess Diaries," "Runaway Bride") from a script by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, the film follows 10 Los Angeles people whose lives intersect on Valentine's Day.

The Hollywood Reporter says Grace plays a mailroom worker who dates Hathaway's character. Roberts is on-board as a teenager trying to sleep with her boyfriend. Elizondo plays MacLaine's husband.

Wow, what a cast! Roberts recenty starred in "Hotel for Dogs." As for Grace, the "That '70s Show" alumnus will soon be seen in "Young Americans." Hector Elizondo's credits include "Chicago Hope," "Monk" and "The Princess Diaries" series.